Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canadians split on whether to blame provinces or feds for housing crisis: poll

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Aug, 2023 02:16 PM
  • Canadians split on whether to blame provinces or feds for housing crisis: poll

Despite what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said recently, a new poll suggests 40 per cent of Canadians think his government is to blame for the country's housing crisis.

Leger surveyed 1,537 people between Aug. 18 and 20, asking a series of questions about the rising cost of housing and what should be done about it.

When asked which level of government deserves the most blame for the crisis, 40 per cent of respondents pointed the finger at the federal government and 32 per cent at their provincial government.

Just six per cent of those polled felt their municipal government was to blame and another 22 per cent said they were not sure.

Renters were more likely to blame the province, while those who own their homes were inclined to blame the feds.

Trudeau was criticized by opposition parties and experts after he told reporters earlier this month that "housing isn't a primary federal responsibility," suggesting that the provinces and municipalities should step up.

Even so, this week the Liberal cabinet has been meeting with two experts who published a report on housing that sets out 10 recommendations for how the federal government could tackle the problem.

One of those is a national housing accord that would see all three levels of government agree to work with builders and non-profit agencies to co-ordinate their efforts. The government hasn't detailed its plans yet but ministers at the meetings in Prince Edward Island have been clear that housing is a top priority.

The Leger poll cannot be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not considered truly random samples.

Overall, 95 per cent of respondents said the rising cost of rents and lack of affordable homes are serious problems.

And more than half of the people polled — 55 per cent — reported that they worried at least once or twice about being able to pay their own mortgage or rent in the last couple of months. That includes 16 per cent who say they worried "frequently' about being able to make the payments.

Respondents from rural areas were most likely to say they never worried about paying their rent or mortgage, as were those over the age of 55.

People between the ages of 18 and 24 were most likely to fret, and the proportion of people worried was highest in cities. Regionally, Albertans and British Columbians were most likely to be concerned about making their payments, while Quebecers were least likely.

The poll also listed possible solutions governments could implement, and asked whether respondents agreed with them.

The top choices, with 79 per cent support each, were building more government-supplied housing and offering incentives to developers to build affordable homes. Seventy-seven per cent of respondents agreed with tightening rent controls, and 68 per cent said there should be income-based rent subsidies.

The lowest support, 56 per cent, was for discouraging short-term rentals and offering homeowners incentives to provide rental suites, at 64 per cent.

Renters were more likely than homeowners to support each of those choices.

Overall, homeowners were less likely than renters to support any of the proposed solutions.

The poll also asked whether the 1,019 respondents who owned their homes had any available space to rent. Only five per cent said they do rent space out, with just one per cent saying they have a short-term rental space.

Fifteen per cent said they have a space that could be rented that is vacant, and another 15 per cent said they have space that could be turned into something rentable.

MORE National ARTICLES

Burnaby man dies in home invasion

Burnaby man dies in home invasion
A woman was also found injured in the home, but police say her injuries aren't considered life threatening. Burnaby R-C-M-P say they were called at around seven this morning to a report of a home invasion. 

Burnaby man dies in home invasion

Canada invites 500 healthcare workers in its first category-based Express Entry draw

Canada invites 500 healthcare workers in its first category-based Express Entry draw
Canada has invited 500 healthcare workers to immigrate under its new category-based Express Entry selection draws with candidates requiring a minimum comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score of 476. Following this first category-based selection draw since six new categories were announced in May, a second round inviting 1,500 workers to apply will take place on July 5.

Canada invites 500 healthcare workers in its first category-based Express Entry draw

Canadian Chamber of Commerce wants B.C. port strike averted, cites economic impact

Canadian Chamber of Commerce wants B.C. port strike averted, cites economic impact
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says it is "deeply disturbed" the British Columbia port workers' union has served strike notice and is prepared to walk out on Saturday. The chamber has issued a statement urging the federal government to "use all the tools in its tool box" to prevent a strike.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce wants B.C. port strike averted, cites economic impact

Lawyers ask Amsterdam court to reduce Canadian 13-year cyberbullying sentence to Dutch citizen

Lawyers ask Amsterdam court to reduce Canadian 13-year cyberbullying sentence to Dutch citizen
Aydin Coban was convicted last year of extortion, harassment and other crimes in a case involving Canadian teenager Amanda Todd who was blackmailed to expose herself in front of a webcam. The 15-year-old died by suicide after detailing her ordeal in a YouTube video watched by millions around the world.  

Lawyers ask Amsterdam court to reduce Canadian 13-year cyberbullying sentence to Dutch citizen

Emergency department reopens after man shot dead by police in B.C. hospital

Emergency department reopens after man shot dead by police in B.C. hospital
The Fraser Health authority says the emergency department at a Hope, B.C., hospital that was temporarily closed after a fatal police shooting has reopened. Police say the man received immediate medical attention but was pronounced dead at the scene.  

Emergency department reopens after man shot dead by police in B.C. hospital

U.S. Coast Guard says 'presumed human remains' found in Titan wreckage

U.S. Coast Guard says 'presumed human remains' found in Titan wreckage
Earlier in the day, debris from the ill-fated submersible was returned to shore in Newfoundland aboard a Canadian-flagged ship that had helped search for the vessel in a remote area of ocean near the wreck of the Titanic.

U.S. Coast Guard says 'presumed human remains' found in Titan wreckage