With the federal election looming around the corner, we need to talk about the biggest problem area on Canadians minds: the affordability crisis. Today, let’s compare and contrast the way the three major parties in Canada plan to tackle the cost of living in this country to empower Canadians to cast an informed vote. Of course, the topic of housing sits high on our list of priorities for this discussion, but it’s impossible to look at the cost of living from one aspect alone. Additionally, while the tariffs are one of the main things on our politician’s minds, it will be nearly impossible to discuss housing without keeping in mind the impact of tariffs.&nbsp;To begin, let’s talk about Mark Carney, leader of the Liberal Party and therefore by default temporary Prime Minster. The Liberal Party has announced its rather fanciful goal to build 500,000 homes each year. This is double the number of homes from previous plans and double the number of housing starts that the private sector in Canada registers in a typical year. To do this, Carney announced he will be opening an organization called Build Canada Homes, a developer that will oversee the process. BCH will be created as an entity independent of the CMHC, strictly dedicated to low value home building. (The Liberal government’s first reaction to any problem always seems to be more government. Perhaps a new approach is in order.) To help with building, Carney wants to grow the construction industry. His website says “We will expand and accelerate training and apprenticeship programs for skilled trades so that we can build the homes Canadians need.” An idea “borrowed” from the Conservatives. He also wants to innovate construction technology to make the building process more efficient through investments and incentives. So, through this the government plans to teach builders how to build better. God help us. The organization that has trouble delivering a passport is going to teach others how to build houses. Additionally, and it seems the only savable part of his plan, Carney plans on reducing fees and taxes to make the actual cost of building truly cheaper. For first time homebuyers, the GST on homes under $1 million will be cut. Overall, the main emphasis of the Liberal housing plan seems to be adding more bureaucracy and promoting socialized housing.For the Conservative Party, Mr. Poilievre’s campaign slogan for housing affordability is “Build Homes, Not Bureaucracy.” His is the opposite of the Liberal plan to establish a giant, expensive and inefficient government agency like BCH. The Conservative approach acknowledges that every dollar kept out of the government’s pocket is one that stays in yours. The first line on his website already mentions Trudeau and rightfully so. After 10 years of disastrous Liberal Party policies that did not consider the unintended consequences of their actions, the Canadian housing market is in shambles. Pierre Poilievre’s website says “Pierre Poilievre announced that he will be introducing the&nbsp;Building Homes, Not Bureaucracy Act,&nbsp;which will put keys in doors and people in homes through a mathematical formula that gives more money to municipalities that are building and meeting targets and takes money away from cities and gatekeepers that aren’t.” Mr. Poilievre intends to hold unaffordable cities (like Toronto and Vancouver) accountable by expecting they adhere to building targets. Of particular importance, the Act will “require big, unaffordable cities to build more homes and speed up the rate at which they build homes every year to meet our housing targets. Cities must increase the number of homes built by 15% each year and then 15% on top of the previous target every single year (it compounds). If targets are missed, cities will have to catch up in the following years and build even more homes, or a percentage of their federal funding will be withheld, equivalent to the percentage they missed their target by. Municipalities can be added if the region that they are in forms a part of the area that needs to meet these criteria.” This involves withholding transit and infrastructure funding for these big cities who can’t keep up. The great news here is that the Conservative plan aims at affordability and choice. They are not suggesting that the answer is in subsidized public housing and a one size fits all solution, but instead it is in lowering the cost of the government and bureaucracy for any home that a consumer wishes to buy. He plans to remove GST on building that will allow rent for below market price. His “Boots, Not Suits” initiative will encourage a whole new generation of people to pursue a career in the trades. Good quality jobs, good wages that will allow more people to afford a home on their own without government handouts.&nbsp;Finally, let’s turn to the NDP. The NDP has criticized the Liberals and the Conservatives for focusing too much on real estate developers, and believes the solution lies in social housing. Singh adds on another angle by attacking the root-cause in his approach, and dreams of helping people live more affordably in the bigger picture. This includes a food price cap from grocery stores, eliminating GST on essentials like monthly bills (internet, heating, etc.), eliminating GST on Canadian made vehicles, implementing rent control, doubling disability benefits, and dental and pharmacare plans. In the weeks to come, the NDP will announce additional plans to support increasing housing supply. While the NDP’s welfare approach seems unlikely to take hold, it is terribly misguided and should be discredited firmly. Their entire platform rests on some magic entity or group paying for all of their free stuff. To the best of my knowledge there is no such entity or group. The closest I can come is to tag the Canadian tax payer with the bill – but they’re tapped out.A new approach is needed. Less government. Lower taxes. Better investment climate and more higher paying jobs. Canadians deserve it.

Which Party has a Better Housing Plan?

Compare Canada's federal election housing plans and analyze the Liberal, Conservative, and NDP strategies to tackle the affordability crisis and empower voters.

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