News & Insights

For the last four years, Gen Squeeze has been asking the federal government to report on age trends in public finance. We've wanted more analysis and transparency about the intergenerational impacts of budget decisions, and the degree to which governments are currently budgeting for young and old alike.

After years of work — and with help from thousands of Gen Squeeze supporters, MPs and staff — we've secured the first-ever intergenerational analysis in a Canadian federal budget. The 2019 federal budget analysis includes three big wins: read on to find out more.

Today the federal government announced an expedited five additional weeks of parental leave, available as a “use it or lose it” benefit top-up when both parents agree to share time off to care for a newborn.

Concerned with the growing squeeze on younger Canadians, Dr. Christopher Mackie — a medical officer of health in London, Ontario — asked his Board in 2015 to support Generation Squeeze. Their spokesperson at the time made news by calling Dr. Mackie's request "idiotic", and even went so far as to assign us a motive, saying Gen Squeeze was “trying to start an inter-generational war."

B.C. needs a #TaxShift, and most people agree on that. But from there, the debate tends to get a bit muddied, and tensions often flare. But why? Our proposal will benefit the vast majority of British Columbians, and make life more affordable for young and old alike. Here are some frequently asked questions that might help clear the air.

On June 5, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously in favour of passing two purpose-built rental projects that will provide 61 secure rental homes for local residents at 855 Kingsway and 4459 Rupert St. This is a big win for Vancouver renters — who make up 53 per cent of households — and Gen Squeeze supporters, who rapidly responded to the opportunity to act.

The B.C. government has strengthened the Foreign Buyers Tax by raising it from 15 to 20 per cent, and by expanding it to Greater Victoria, the Fraser Valley, the Central Okanagan, and the Nanaimo area — something we've been calling for since early 2017!

We achieved an important victory this week by getting young adults added to the list of vulnerable groups in Canada's new National Housing Strategy ("NHS"). A big thanks to volunteer and Gen Squeeze advisor N.K. Singh and to Vancouver Quadra MP Joyce Murray for helping lock in this small change, which has the potential to make a big difference for young people!

On Nov. 23 and after more than a year of consultations — including with Gen Squeeze — the City of Vancouver released its 10-year Housing Vancouver Strategy. After reading the 80+ pages we knew right away it was one of the strongest municipal housing strategies we had ever seen, and needed to be passed.