The North Shore’s population is at 215,000 and counting, according to StatCan. It’s a subject that always stokes anxiety here, particularly when it comes to housing and infrastructure.
The main driver of new growth nationally has been immigration, StatCan says. Recognizing the pressure that puts on the housing market, the federal government has stated the number of new immigrants to be settled in 2025 and 2026 will be curbed, which will actually lead to a small contraction in our overall population. A shrinking labour pool and tax base has its own challenges, but for now, we need to prioritize housing.
For decades at the municipal level, all new homes were seen as discretionary, subject to councils who almost exclusively listened to their well-housed residents. That model of decision making goes a long way to explaining the housing crisis we are in now.
We can’t have one level of government in control over the size of the population and another level of government in control over the supply of housing.
Municipal leaders, even those who understand the importance of growth and planning, are right to worry about demands on local schools, hospitals, community centres and transportation networks. The answer is for senior levels of government to buck up and provide funding for the amenities that make life work – just as they did when our population was going through a baby boom.
In the meantime, attempting to restrict population growth by limiting new housing doesn’t work. It just forces people into increasingly desperate and precarious housing decisions.
It’s time to get our house in order.
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
