Real estate prices in Toronto and Vancouver continue to rise, but there is not consensus about what is behind the growing housing crisis and the best solutions to pursue.

A debate piece looks at the issue of rising housing costs in Canadian cities and whether foreign buyers are the source of the problem. Bob Hutchings argues that non-residents are buying up a large percentage of housing in cities like Vancouver and leaving many of these units vacant. The result is increasing property costs, which is putting a strain on Canadian buyers and renters.
"What needs to be done, and with some great urgency, is to pass a law stating that non-residents can no longer buy in Canada, or, at the very least, have a 50 to 75 per cent tax on foreign buyers," says Hutchings.
Philip Cross, however, believes that restricting non-residents from buying homes is misplaced blame and will not solve Canada’s housing problems. The issue, he says, is a housing market that has not kept up with the increase in demand, fueled by lower interest rates and a crash in oil prices.
Supply has not met demand because of policies, such as zoning regulations and rent control, that have hindered construction, according to Cross. "The only sustainable long-term solution to soaring home prices in Toronto and Vancouver is to loosen the regulations stifling supply — a process underway at least in Ontario — while reining in demand."
FULL STORY: Should Canada ban non-residents from buying homes?

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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