The Parties’ Housing Promises Are Built On Unsound Foundations – Financial Post Op-ed
A basic principle of good governance in Canada is that governments set mandates for crown corporations and regulatory authorities and those arm’s-length institutions then make use of the tools at their disposal to design actual policies. This principle is under threat on the campaign trail as politicians weigh in on one of the issues voters care most about these days, housing affordability.
All parties have put out ideas and plans for taming Canada’s housing markets. They all acknowledge the need to increase supply — which at the end of the day is the only real long-term fix — while trying to free up extra cash for people to make a down payment on a home in their desired neighbourhood. But in the blizzard of proposals there…
Conference Report – Rebuilding Better: Local Content and Public Procurement Rules
The C.D. Howe Institute held a special Policy Seminar on local content and public procurement rules on June 9th, 2021. The backdrop for the seminar was the sense of opportunity but also the challenges emanating from a “rebuilding better” infrastructure agenda in Canada and many countries following the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency […] Benjamin Dachis – Three Strings For Ottawa’s Housing Price Bow
From: Benjamin Dachis To: Canadian housing watchers Date: June 11, 2021 Re: Three Strings for Ottawa’s Housing Price Bow Housing costs have become a national economic concern, reaching policymakers in Ottawa. Normally, federal moves affect the demand side of housing through lending policy. But lending power does not address lack of supply, which is the core problem. What […] Don Drummond – Breathing Life Into The Liberal Government’s Quality Of Life Index
From: Don Drummond To: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland Date: June 9, 2021 Re: Breathing Life into the Liberal Government’s Quality of Life Index Following the lead of a number of other countries, the Department of Finance and Statistics Canada are engaged in an investigation of and consultations on how to inform policymaking better with information on Canadians’ quality of […] Three ways Ottawa could really help boost housing supply without crossing the line – Financial Post Op-Ed
Housing costs have become a national economic concern, reaching policymakers in Ottawa. Normally, federal moves affect the demand side of housing through lending policy. But lending power does not address the core problem now, which is lack of supply. What could Ottawa do in an area that is normally provincial jurisdiction? It could use its money wisely to solve problems local governments have a harder time tackling.
First, Ottawa could require that infrastructure grants only go to areas that expedite development. Here the key justification for a federal role is a need to curb local residents’ opposition to construction. This opposition, which restricts entry, would be considered anti-competitive action if a business…
Glen Hodgson – How Should Governments Assess Crown Corporation Financial Performance?
Canada’s Crown corporations form a major part of the economy, but rarely draw detailed scrutiny. In his latest C.D. Howe Institute Commentary and in this special Intelligence Memo series, Fellow-in-Residence Glen Hodgson sets out principles for effective governance for Crowns. Today, we examine the financial dimension. From: Glen Hodgson To: Overseers of Crown Corporations Date: June 2, 2021 […] Elliott, Manget, Robson – Five Ideas To Help Cities Make The Most Of The Recovery
From: Andrea Elliott, Joe Manget and William B.P. Robson To: The Citizens and Leaders of Canada’s Cities Date: May 31, 2021 Re: Five Ideas to Help Cities Make the Most of the Recovery Toronto, like other major Canadian cities, is creative and resilient. Its underlying economic strength, built on world-leading talent and diverse, innovative local businesses, will enable it […] Peter Van Dijk – Why Public Sector Entities Must Be Allowed To Include Natural Assets In Financial Statements
From: Peter van Dijk To: Canadians Concerned about Recognition of Natural Assets Date: May 20, 2021 Re: Why Public Sector Entities Must Be Allowed to Include Natural Assets in Financial Statements Canada’s wealth of natural capital – forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes and grasslands – deliver critical benefits to support our economy and our society. Despite their value, these natural […] Benjamin Dachis – Tripped Up: The Pandemic Effect On Public Transit
From: Benjamin Dachis To: Canadian Transit Watchers Date: April 22, 2021 Re: Tripped Up: The Pandemic Effect on Public Transit COVID-19 has fundamentally changed lives across Canada. This change may be most pronounced in Canada’s major cities. Many of the things that make city life so vibrant – restaurants, entertainment, or learning from great colleagues at the office – […] Benjamin Dachis – Reducing Permit Costs In The Canadian Economy
From: Benjamin Dachis To: House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology Date: April 16, 2021 Re: Reducing Permit Costs in the Canadian Economy From water hookup fees to interminable waits for approval from city hall, excess permit costs and delays are harming Canadian homebuyers and small businesses. For homebuyers, restrictions on housing supply and extra […] Trains, Lanes and Automobiles: The Effect of COVID-19 on the Future of Public Transit
Troubled Transit: Working from Home Has Wider, “Overlooked” Economic Costs for Cities The massive shift to working from home is causing Canada’s major urban centres to lose out on the wider, often overlooked, economic benefits of public transit. Fast public transit enables riders to have access to a wider set of job opportunities, higher wages, […] Transit tripped up: the effect of COVID-19 and the future of public transit – Hill Times Op-Ed
COVID-19 has fundamentally changed lives across Canada. This change may be most pronounced in Canada’s major cities. Many of the things that make life in our cities so vibrant—great restaurants, entertainment, or going to the office to learn from great colleagues—have vanished. Post-pandemic, as more Canadians work from home, transit operators will face the challenge of bringing us back together to enjoy urban life while facing a gloomy financial outlook.
There are many benefits of urban living, such as tapping a large job and employee market, having access to a wide range of services and infrastructure, and learning from others face-to-face. Public transit is the essential component that enables the benefits of people coming…