Sometimes it takes an outsider to point out the obvious.
A report released by the CD Howe Institute in Toronto suggests Canadian housing policy should be adjusted to encourage the growth of smaller cities as a mechanism for solving the housing crisis. Or perhaps more precisely the affordable housing crisis.
The Institute commissioned a couple of experts who concluded maybe we need to rethink our policy of building a lot more housing in the big cities as a tool for lowering prices. They say adding to the supply will only encourage more people to move to cities such as Toronto or Vancouver.
They offer an alternate approach: focus on adding housing in smaller centres by improving infrastructure and, basically, making smaller cities more attractive as places to live, work and invest. In short, they say we need more big cities which would take the pressure off those currently in that category.
They advocate for a selection of ‘winners and losers’ among the secondary cities, something that should be a call to action for our civic leaders to ensure Saskatchewan communities can meet those standards.
