Canada

I'm so tired of the provincial and federal governments doing this dance. Sure it's a provincial responsibility, just like healthcare. But we have several provinces who are actively making things worse. If the feds are going to stand around and let it happen, they might as well be complicit in it.

They used to fund public housing. Ban corporate home ownership, and introduce taxes to make owning multiple homes unprofitable. Then fix our tax brackets so I don't pay basically the same rate as someone making 10x what I do.

They're not taxing the wealthy enough to a) pay for the services we need, and b) stop cash hoarding and (literal) rentier capitalism run rampant. They could raise taxes (income, estate, transfers in- and out of the country) and they could use that money, given to the provinces and municipalities, to invest in public housing at scale.

But they don't want to, because it would expensive and it would require bold, interventionist economic policy, both of which neoliberal governments don't do--partly because we're two generations into policymakers that don't even think this way, and also because they're absolutely terrified of any blowback.

So yes, they're responsible for quite a bit. The provinces and cities own a lot of this two, but all three levels have enough neoliberal orthodoxy and political cowardice to share.

Trudeau is not wrong that housing is primarily a provincial responsibility. That said, he is telling a half truth because the federal government absolutely used to fund social housing and no longer does. What I definitely do not want to see is different levels of government bickering about responsibility while this hugely important issue remains unfixed.

Luxury tax on second/third/etc. homes would be federal jurisdiction, no? Would make it easier to keep track of someone with homes inmultirple provinces anyway.

"An essential part of life in Canada, is living in Canada. Having a place to live cannot become a luxury and economic bargaining chip for the wealthy. It's a necessity and a cornerstone of the dignity and pride we have in the prosperity of our nation - that when we aspire to our highest ideals, everybody in this country has a seat at the table. This inclusiveness is what makes us who we are. That's why my government has an extensive action plan for housing, which includes comprehensive liaison projects with all the provinces and cities of this country to make sure that the federal government is doing everything it can to secure the basic human need of housing, and that it is something that is never out of reach for any of our citizens."

-No Canadian politician ever

Close-to-cause solutions have to start at municipalities. Yes, provinces and federal government can help, but municipalities can solve things quicker.

If I had full control in a large city:

• Primary mass transit would be expanded to increase the feasible housing areas
• Building permit offices and zoning authorities would get a complete overhaul, drastically increasing multi-unit housing in preference to single-family dwellings
• A graduated zoning system would be put in place so multi-unit housing was radically increased near mass transit (near 100% of permits). If people want single-family homes, they would have to live further away from transit.
• Downtown cores would increase pedestrian-only areas
• Tax rates for single-family homes would be increased substantially while condos and townhomes would be seriously reduced.

Basically, make single-family homes less appealing for a variety of reasons.

I'm not sure what tools there are that I'm comfortable with federal government using. Housing seems to me to be largely Municipal problem, but Canada is also a pretty unique place. We have tons of under served communities outside our large cities that could use an influx of industry and citizens.

My fear is that federal housing could end up being like the projects in the US back in the seventies. You also have to convince people that townhouses or apartments are able to support expansion of families.

It's loose/loose

If he does nothing, he's evil.

If he, for example, offer money for provinces to create laws to lock-out Rich people and corporations from houses listed under 1 million, he would be lambasted as meddling in provincial affairs.

Wait, it wasn't the Feds who created the RRSP home buyers plan? The first time home buyers savings account?

Both of which will raise demand and drive prices higher....

How about the favourable tax conditions around homes? Not the Feds?

They're just lying, plain and simple.