D R. DA L E A N D E R S O N

URBAN AND HOUSING ISSUES IN CANADA

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

• Canada: Context• Government and Shared Responsibilities• Urbanism and Key Urban Issues• General Housing Concepts • Housing in British Columbia• Housing Policy in B.C.

• Late 15th century, British and French colonies on Atlantic coast

• Eventually, United Kingdom gained territories

• British North American Act of 1867 – three colonies formed Dominion of Canada

• More colonies added to the self-governing dominion

• 1931 Britain granted Canada full independence

• 1982 – last ties dissolved• Aboriginal peoples were living

in these colonies when Canada formed – still present today

CONTEXT:HISTORY

• 10 provinces• 3 territories• 10 million square km

(second largest country by area)• 35 million people• Border shared with United

States (and France) • Vast majority of

population live within 200 km of USA• Highly multicultural,

especially major metropolitan areas

CANADA TODAY

• Democratic constitutional monarchy

• Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II • Head of Government: Elected

Prime Minister • Federal government three

branches• Executive • Legislative• Judicial

• Federal, and provincial /territorial governments share responsibilities

• Queen has representatives in Canada

GOVERNMENT

SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

Federal Government

• Areas of law listed in the Constitution Act, 1867 • Generally affect the

whole country • Sources of Revenue:

Income tax, sales tax, corporate tax

Areas of Responsibility

• National defence• Foreign affairs• Employment insurance• Banking• Federal taxes• Post office• Fisheries• Shipping, railways,

telephones and pipelines• Aboriginal lands and rights• criminal law

SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

Provincial Government

• Areas of law listed in the Constitution Act, 1867 • Generally affect

individual provinces • Sources of Revenue:

Income tax, sales tax, corporate taxes

Areas of Responsibility

• Education• Health care • Some natural resources • Road regulations• Hospitals• Federal Prisons• Marriage• Property and civil rights• Agriculture and

immigration shared with federal

SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

Municipal Government

• “Creatures of the provinces”• Powers as granted by

province• Property taxes

Areas of Responsibility

• Emergency Services (police, fire, ambulance)• Local roads and

infrastructure • Water, sewer• Community centres,

libraries, swimming pools = typically

SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

First Nations

• Changing status• Band councils • Sources of Revenue:

varies – primarily federal government

Areas of Responsibility

• Changing• On reserve = federal

responsibility • Off reserve =

provincial responsibility

URBANISM – OVER TIME

URBANISM TODAY

• About 80% urban

• 10 million in three metropolitan areas:• Toronto - 5M• Montreal - 3.5M• Vancouver - 2M

OTHER MAJOR URBAN CENTRESRank Metro Area Pop 2011

1 Toronto, Ontario 5,583,064

2 Montreal, Quebec 3,824,221

3 Vancouver, British Columbia 2,313,328

4 Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario and Quebec 1,236,324

5 Calgary, Alberta 1,214,839

6 Edmonton, Alberta 1,159,869

7 Quebec City, Quebec 765,706

8 Winnipeg, Manitoba 730,018

9 Hamilton/Burlington, Ontario 721,053

10 Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo, Ontario 477,160

11 London, Ontario 474,786

12 Saint Catherine’s Niagara, Ontario 392,184

13 Halifax, Nova Scotia 390,328

14 Oshawa , Ontario 356,177

 15 Victoria, British Columbia 344,615

TOTAL 19,983,672

URBAN ISSUES

Major Issues

• Urban sprawl• Municipal infrastructure:

maintaining, renewing and costs of doing so

• Housing: lack, affordability• Public transit and

transportation• Climate change• Environmental quality • Immigration

Paradox

• Very high per capita income

• High ranking on Human Development Index

• High results for education, government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom

HOUSING IN CANADA

Features

• Market: ownership or rental

• Social housing – rental • High homeownership

rates historically (67-70%)• Homeownership

increasing over past decades*

• Major changes by federal government after WWII

Issues

• Affordability• Rental: Lack of new,

quality of stock • Past development patterns

and reliance on cars• Homeownership vs rental

patterns changing • Energy and water

efficiency and sustainability – compact communities

• Partnering in social housing• Funding – e.g., early stages of

affordable housing project• Financial assistance such as

First-time Home Buyers Tax Credit or Home Buyers Plan (use funds from retirement savings)

• Providing mortgage insurance (<20% down payment)   

• Research on the housing market via Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

• Exemptions from capital gains tax for principal residence

Affordability Examples

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: FEDERAL

• Regulation of real estate development and marketing

• Home warranty insurance• Landlord-tenant relations• Overseeing land use planning and

development finance• Funding public transit• Funding social housing programs and

projects • Providing targeted rent supplements • Homeowner support – e.g., property-

tax support, property tax deferment programs, first-time home buyers grant

• Home adaptations for independence• Seniors Home Renovation Tax Credit• Building code for B.C. – example:

options for secondary suites• Developing uniform technical

standards that simplify building code compliance

Affordability Examples

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: PROVINCE

• Regional growth strategies and community and neighbourhood plans – support affordable housing• Housing friendly

regulatory environment (e.g., allowing secondary suites, density, good transit corridors, etc.)• Prezoning land• Property tax incentives for

affordable housing• Streamlining

development approval processes• Reducing permitting fees

and development cost charges

Affordability Examples

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: MUNICIPAL

HOUSING CONCEPTS

Core Housing Need

• Adequate (repairs)• Suitable (size)• Affordable (<30%

income)

HOUSING IN B.C.

Key Features

• Private market provides most housing (95%)

• Social/subsidized housing (5%)

• Ownership and rental• Single detached

housing predominates

Issues

• Affordability becoming increasing concern• Homelessness • Large urban/industrial

centres• Supply, affordability,

quality • Sustainability features

of building code

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN BC

City of Vancouver

• Single detached home ~ $1 million CDN

• Average household income ~ $57,000

• Renters: ~ 52%

City of Victoria

• Single detached home ~ $750,000 CDN

• Average household income ~ $38,000

• Renters ~60%

HOUSING POLICY IN B.C.

Housing Matters B.C.

• Provincial housing policy document

• Latest update 2014• Main policy document• Implementation: BC

Housing and partners• Philosophy of

partnerships • housingmattersbc.ca

Rent Control

• Rent control features: Increase of inflation

+ 2% Deregulation

between tenancies Above-guideline

increases possible • Manufactured home parks

– slight differences

HOUSING CONTINUUM/HOUSING SPECTRUM

TEMPORARY --------------------------------- PERMANENT

Emergency Shelters

Transitional Housing

Supported Housing

Assisted Living

Non-market Rental (Social Housing)

Rental Assistance in Private Market

Market Rental (Purpose Built)

Secondary Rental (Condos, Suites)

Ownership – Strata

Ownership – Non-Strata

----------------------- RENTAL ----------------------- OWNED

MORE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT LESS

HOUSING POLICY IN B.C.

Strategy 1

• Stable housing with integrated supports for those facing homelessness

Goals

• Increased housing supply for the homeless• Homeless have

improved access, choice and stability in social housing and private rental market

HOUSING POLICY IN B.C.

Strategy 2

• B.C.’s most vulnerable citizens receive priority for assistance

• Frail seniors, mental illness, physical disability, drug/alcohol addictions, women and children fleeing violence, homeless and at risk of homelessness

Goals

• Manage social housing stock to ensure its stability and maximum potential

HOUSING POLICY IN B.C.

Strategy 3

• Aboriginal housing need is addressed through a strong Aboriginal housing sector

• Off-reserve housing• Aboriginals

overrepresented in homelessness, core housing need

Goals

• A strong, self-reliant Aboriginal housing sector • Through: Devolution of

responsibility

HOUSING POLICY IN B.C.

Strategy 4

• Low- to moderate-income households have improved access to affordable and stable rental housing

Goals

• Increased supply, choice and improved accessibility of rental housing for low/moderate income households and vulnerable populations• Streamlined systems

for landlords and tenants

HOUSING POLICY IN B.C.

Strategy 5

• Homeownership continues to be a sound option for British Columbians

Goals

• Effective systems that support consumer confidence • Improved home

inspector licensing

HOUSING POLICY IN B.C.

Strategy 6

• B.C.’s governance framework for housing, building and technical equipment safety is clear, effective and balanced

Goals

• Safety risks are identified and managed properly• Safety, economic and

social interests are recognized, balanced and managed appropriately

HOUSING FIRST STRATEGY

Housing First Strategy

• Shift in provision of housing to needy populations• Formerly: stabilize life,

then eligible for housing• Housing First: No

barriers to housing, provide supports

At Home/Chez Soi Study

• Housing First effective strategy• $10 investment in

housing services average savings of $9.60 for high needs participants and $3.42 for moderate needs

T H A N K YO U A N D Q U E S T I O N S

DALE.ANDERSON@GOV.BC.CA

PROVINCIAL PLAYERS

• Example• BC Housing• HPO• Real Estate Sector• Builders• Business• New home warranty

program