Housing Construction Not Keeping Up With Demand

Despite rising population and growing demand, more housing was constructed in Canadian cities during the 1970s than what is presently being built, says a Fraser Institute study. “The reality is simple: Canada is not building enough homes to keep up with population growth or basic demand,” says Steve Lafleur, a senior fellow with the institute and co-author of ‘Canada’s Housing Mismatch: Canadians want ground-oriented homes, but not enough are being built.’ Despite strong demand, ground-oriented housing completions declined during the 2010s, alongside a general national decline in housing completions compared to the 1970s. “Not only is there a widespread shortage of housing, but there is a growing mismatch between the housing types being built and those preferred by Canadians,” says Josef Filipowicz, a senior fellow at the institute and study co-author. “Clearly we should focus on the causes and consequences of this mismatch, as well as solutions for Canadians now and in the future.”