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The Liberal Affordable Housing Plan – Lofty Ideas, but Light on Details
The Liberal Party announced its plan to address the affordability crisis, calling it “Canada’s most ambitious housing plan since the Second World War.” The plan aims to increase the rate of residential housing construction to 500,000 units per year over the next decade. The key components of the plan include: Build Canada Homes (BCH): BCH…
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Tariffs Put the Brakes on Economic Recovery
Canadian monthly GDP rose by a solid 0.4 per cent in January, the largest gain in nearly a year, following an upwardly revised 0.3 per cent advance in December (initially reported as +0.2 per cent). The Bank of Canada’s easing measures appeared to be having the desired effect, signalling that the economy was turning a…
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Popping Trial Balloons in the Housing Market
The election writ was dropped on Sunday, March 23, just one day before parliament was scheduled to resume. With the election scheduled for April 28, we expect to hear numerous proposals on how the federal government can address the housing crisis. Below, we examine two recent proposals from BC. Addressing the down payment hurdle Saving…
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Regional Impact of Tariffs – A Closer Look at BC and Alberta
The Canadian economy is expected to slow amid the risk of tariffs and an escalating trade war. While the exact scope and scale of these tariffs remains uncertain, we can make an educated assessment of their effects on the Canadian economy at a regional level. This week, we take a closer look at Canada’s two…
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Housing and Productivity – Are We Measuring the Problem Effectively?
Cities are, at their core, labour markets. Although they serve many other functions, they wouldn’t exist without a functioning labour market. While this may seem like a harsh statement, it’s a reality we have largely ignored. Job growth fuels the amenities and services that make cities vibrant and livable. Another key factor is scale—larger cities…
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Recession or Slowdown? Inside the Fed’s Perspective
As 2025 began, the US economy appeared to be on solid footing. Growth was expected to continue at just above 2 per cent, with core inflation slowly returning towards the Federal Reserve’s 2 per cent target. However, it’s now evident that the US economy has dropped into a lower gear. Extreme tariff policies, federal spending…
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The Affordable Housing Spin Cycle
Solving the affordable housing gap is a complex challenge. The problem is big, and it will take time to deliver new units. So, when the federal government recently announced an investment in five housing projects to deliver over 5,300 homes in Ottawa, it seemed like good progress. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals…
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