Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will present the next budget in the House of Commons on April 16, with the government facing considerable political pressure over the economy. Ms. Freeland says the economic plan will be about “building more homes, faster, making life more affordable and creating more good jobs.” (The Globe and Mail)
Here are some experts from McGill University who can comment on this topic:
Canadian voters will be hearing a similar message from each of the major federal parties during the current election campaign: housing has grown too expensive, and we have a plan to fix it. The consensus reflects the increasingly dire state of housing in Canada, experts say, which affects everyone from prospective homeowners feeling squeezed out of the market to lower-income families languishing on waiting lists for affordable housing. (CBC News)
Premier François Legault says he recognizes there is a shortage of affordable housing in Quebec but says his comments that a person can rent an apartment in Montreal for between $500-$600 a month have been misinterpreted. A survey published by La Presse last weekend revealed the average price of a Montreal apartment is about $907 a month and often these units are in terrible shape. (Montreal Gazette)
