Big city mayors say they are facing housing affordability challenges

Canada’s big-city mayors say they need to work with the federal authorities to repair Canada’s housing disaster.

Housing was the main matter Thursday on the annual convention of big-city mayors in Regina.

Large Metropolis Mayors’ Caucus Chair and RisePEI Mayor Mike Savage stated there’s a lack of inexpensive housing in municipalities throughout the nation.

He stated he needs to work with Ottawa to handle housing obstacles that embrace a scarcity of provide, individuals being unable to entry financing, and elevated price of land.

Savage stated fixing the housing disaster can also be key to making sure there’s robust financial restoration popping out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal authorities is placing $4-billion towards a housing fund geared toward constructing 100,000 items over 5 years, however Savage stated the funding must be sustained even longer.

“(COVID-19) has shone a lightweight on homelessness that’s present and had accelerated in the course of the pandemic,” Savage stated.

“On the subject of housing and homelessness, the feds have the cash, the provinces have the jurisdiction, the cities have the issue. All of us have to be on the desk on the similar time.”