Trudeau Wary of Unintended Consequences in Dealing with Vancouver's Housing Crisis

Prime Minister Trudeau took sides on one controversial issue central to the debate about the cost of housing in Vancouver, but stopped short of suggesting a clear policy agenda for the federal government to improve the problem.

1 minute read

June 21, 2016, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Justin Trudeau

Stacey Newman / Shutterstock

"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says 'obviously overseas money coming in is playing a role' in Metro Vancouver's housing crisis," according to an article by Mike Laanela, "But it remains unclear what his government will do to cool down the region's red hot real estate market."

The article goes into more details about Prime Minister Trudeau's statements, which mostly expressed caution on the role of the federal government in improving the situation. "We need to make sure that any action we take is not going to make the situation worse. The law of unintended consequences is very, very present in housing markets," according to a direct quote of Trudeau from the article. Especially concerning to Prime Minister Trudea is the possibility that actions that might benefit one region of the country might have adverse effects in another part of the country.

Prime Minister Trudeau was in town to take action on an issue intertwined with the cost of housing: public transit. Prime Minister Trudeau and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark "signed a transit funding agreement totaling over $900 million, making British Columbia the first province in Canada to ratify a bilateral transit deal," according to a separate article by the CBC News.

Friday, June 17, 2016 in CBC News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Man in teal shirt opening door to white microtransit shuttle with cactus graphics and making inviting gesture toward the camera.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps

New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

June 13 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Group of people at table set ouf with picnic food on street during a neighborhood block party.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors

A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.

June 13 - The Kansas City Star

Crowd gathered with protest signs on April 5, 2025 on steps of Minnesota state capitol protesting Trump cuts to social security and other federal programs.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us

Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.

June 13 - Shelterforce Magazine