Canadian Housing Crisis

The Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative  (CHEC) is an independent, university-based research and knowledge mobilization organization that shares evidence, stimulates new research and advises on strategic evidence-informed action. CHEC brings together a network of more than 30 academics from across Canada and beyond who are engaged in independent, in-depth research exploring the connections between income, housing and health.

The pie chart below represents an unscientific allocation of a possible per cent contribution of each bullet point.

CHEC Causes of Housing Crisis (unscientific percents)

 CHEC explains that the rapid escalation in the cost of both home ownership and rental accommodation in Canada and around the world has a multitude of causes, some more important than others.

Fifteen bold bullet points from the web post “What caused the housing crisis?” are summarized below:

1. Low interest rates:

2. Increased money supply: 

3. Financialization of housing:

4. Failure to prepare for population increase:

5. Exit of government from affordable housing: 

6. Failure to protect existing affordable housing: 

7. Slow municipal approval process:

8. Bad forecasting housing inflation and student increases.

9. Cohort of wealthy homeowners who bid up prices.

10. Grow condos over rentals: 

11. Exclusive single-family Nimbyism: 

12. Failure to build new student housing: 

13. Money laundering illegal money: 

14. Foreign investors buying properties in Canada

15. Failure to develop approved properties 

(Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative, n.d.)

The pie chart represents an unscientific allocation of a possible per cent contribution of each bullet point. Consider how you would change the allocation of percentage to causes that would more accurately reflect the situation in your area based on your experience.

References

Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative. (n.d.). What caused the housing crisis. CHEC. Retrieved October 31, 2025, from https://chec-ccrl.ca/what-caused-the-housing-crisis/ 

Health Homes and Climate

The relationships between health services, housing needs, and the climate crisis are many. The tension between market based action and government control in these areas compels us to carefully analyze trends and progress.

Health and Housing in Climate Crisis

The Ottawa Citizen reports on privatization of orthopedic surgery that may be impacting staffing for hospital health care. Elizabeth Payne reports:

“We are not able to provide the service we want for oncology patients because nurses are working in a higher paid environment,” said the unnamed source. “My view is that this is confirming the concerns that we are limited in terms of the service we can provide in the public system because nurses are obviously being poached by this private clinic.” (Payne, 2023)

Nicole Munro, at Saltwire, contributes an article on West End Mall redevelopment in Halifax.

By the time the master plan is finished, Coun. Shawn Cleary (Halifax West Armdale) said, the inclusionary zoning bylaw should be in place at about the same time, giving HRM the power to ensure there is a percentage of affordable units included.

While Cleary suspects most of the units will be market-based rents, he said the inclusionary zoning bylaw would allow some affordable units.

“We’ll have the power to actually say, ‘No, no, you don’t have a choice. You’re going to have this per cent of those units that have to be affordable.’” (Halifax's West End Mall Redevelopment Will Go on Despite Pushback, Councillor Says, 2023)

Matt McGrath, environment correspondent for BBC News, contributes an article about fossil fuel emissions falling in worldwide electricity generation.

One significant player impacting the overall trend is China. Around 50% of the global addition of wind power came from China and about 40% of the world's new solar came from from the country that's also the world's biggest use of coal power.

"There is a chance that at the rate that China is building wind and solar and all types of clean generation, that they achieve that peak in coal generation earlier than 2025, which would be significant," said Mr Jones.

Energy experts acknowledge that curbing fossil fuels in power generation could well be a "turning point", but much more remains to be done. (McGrath, 2023)

We monitor important trends as we ponder the best economic approach to address these serious concerns that impact the common good.

References

Halifax's West End Mall redevelopment will go on despite pushback, councillor says. (2023, April 12). SaltWire. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/business/halifaxs-west-end-mall-redevelopment-will-go-on-despite-pushback-councillor-says-100843479/ 

McGrath, M. (2023, April 11). Climate change: Fossil fuel emissions from electricity set to fall - report. BBC. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65240094 

Payne, E. (2023, March 21). Surgeries at for-profit orthopedic clinic already impacting hospital staffing, some insiders say. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://ottawacitizen.com/news/surgeries-at-for-profit-orthopedic-clinic-already-impacting-hospital-staffing-some-insiders-say