Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Experts say budget is hit-and-miss on housing

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Apr, 2021 07:11 PM
  • Experts say budget is hit-and-miss on housing

Experts and advocates say countrywide government measures aimed at putting housing within reach of more Canadians mark a step in the right direction, despite a few misses and ham-fisted moves.

Yesterday's federal budget promised $2.4 billion over five years for affordable housing and followed through on a pledge to tax foreigners who own vacant homes in Canada.

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Toronto Regional Real Estate Board president Lisa Patel both applauded the commitments for trying to tackle affordability as real estate prices soar across the country, though Patel questioned whether a vacancy tax would make a dent in prices or supply.

Prof. Tsur Somerville, a real estate expert at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business, cast doubt on whether a national tax for a price problem particular to urban and suburban areas was appropriate, saying cottage country as well as tourist hot spots such as Banff and Mont Tremblant could suffer.

Jill Atkey, CEO of the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association, says she welcomed the budget's one-year, $1.5-billion extension of the popular Rapid Housing Initiative, which funds construction of modular homes and conversion of existing properties into residences.

However, she says she was "profoundly disappointed" the 739-page document did not carve out an urban, rural Indigenous housing strategy, first promised by the Liberal government in 2017.

MORE National ARTICLES

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says it happened at about 6:30 p.m. at the Town Centre skate park.

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C

B.C. looks at roadblocks to slow COVID-19 spread

B.C. looks at roadblocks to slow COVID-19 spread
In a statement today, Farnworth says the goal is to discourage recreational travel but there will be no random, individual stops.

B.C. looks at roadblocks to slow COVID-19 spread

4 youth arrested in a fight involving 30 youth and one youth sent to hospital with serious injuries

4 youth arrested in a fight involving 30 youth and one youth sent to hospital with serious injuries
Upon arrival, the responding officers located armed suspects who had fled the scene using public transit. All four suspects were arrested and their guardians notified.

4 youth arrested in a fight involving 30 youth and one youth sent to hospital with serious injuries

2960 COVID19 cases over 3 days

2960 COVID19 cases over 3 days
An overly emotional Dr. Bonnie Henry shared the news of a 2 year old passing away from the virus.     

2960 COVID19 cases over 3 days

Rogers customers across Canada hit with unexpected outages, Chief Technology Officer issues apology

Rogers customers across Canada hit with unexpected outages, Chief Technology Officer issues apology
The intermittent wireless service issues that started earlier this morning are unacceptable. On behalf of all of us here at Rogers, Rogers for Business, Fido, and chatr, I want to sincerely apologize for the significant impact and frustration that this has caused.

Rogers customers across Canada hit with unexpected outages, Chief Technology Officer issues apology

Liberals move to make pardons more accessible

Liberals move to make pardons more accessible
Proposals outlined in the federal budget Monday could undo measures introduced by Stephen Harper's Conservatives that made people wait longer and pay more to obtain a pardon.

Liberals move to make pardons more accessible