Population and Housing

[ijmorlan]

I don't see why only condo developers should contribute, it should be the same for the developers creating new subdivisions?

This is a real issue for me. I honestly feel like some people want to punish developers for building high rise condos and so they only demand affordable homes from them and not in low-rise subdivisions. I watch a lot of council meetings, and I can't think of a time that 'affordable units' have come in related to subdivisions, but it comes up at most/all of the condo proposals.

That is weird. Why are only highrises required to contribute to affordable housing?

But on the other hand, why are only developers — in other words, those who are already trying to make more housing — taxed to contribute to affordable housing? The general rule is to tax what you don’t want and subsidize what you do (but be smart about it, because otherwise the outcome will not be good). We want housing, so why do we tax it with a requirement to contribute to affordable housing?

Maybe the government should just build affordable housing according to public requirements.

Of course, we should also see what happens if we allow 4 story small apartments in all residential zones as of right. I have a sneaking suspicion that in times of high rents you would see more small building projects happening.

Also, reform the Residential Tenancies Act so that non-paying tenants can be removed faster. If there are people who genuinely can’t pay the government should deal with their situation, not whatever hapless landlord happens to be unlucky enough to end up with them in their property. This is how it words with groceries — Zehr’s isn’t expected to just allow certain people to shoplift groceries from their store every week.