Toronto's Housing Crisis: Olivia Chow's Regressive Approach to Affordability

Toronto's election of Olivia Chow, touted as a champion for progressive housing policies, has proved to be a fantasy. As the city grapples with a housing crisis, Chow's stance has been anything but courageous. In fact, she has proven to be remarkably regressive on housing issues, failing to support policies that could actually alleviate the crisis. This is not surprising, given that Chow's approach is stuck in the past, failing to recognize the changing needs of the city's residents. The recent city council vote on sixplexes, where Chow failed to publicly campaign for the policy and did not speak in support of it, is a prime example of her inability to lead on this critical issue.

Key Takeaways:

• Olivia Chow's approach to housing is remarkably regressive, failing to support policies that could alleviate the housing crisis.
• Chow's stance is rooted in a decades-old grasp of housing, focusing solely on social housing built by the government for the lowest-income earners.
• This approach is insufficient, as the housing crisis has evolved to affect a broader segment of the population, including young professionals and middle-class families.
• Chow's refusal to support upzoning and legalizing "missing middle" multiplexes is a missed opportunity to address the housing crisis and create family-sized homes in attractive, existing neighborhoods.
• The city's failure to implement these reforms puts federal funding at risk and neglects the city's supply needs.
• Chow's lack of support for private developers and market housing is a hindrance to addressing the affordability puzzle.
• Younger workers, even those making objectively good incomes, are now part of the disenfranchised, disadvantaged constituents who need bold solutions to the housing crisis.

Statistics:

• $471 million: The amount of federal funding Toronto committed to by accepting the Housing Accelerator Fund in 2023, which put at risk due to Chow's failure to support upzoning and multi-plexes.
• 9: The number of wards in Toronto where sixplexes are now allowed, leaving 16 wards without the option.
• 25: The total number of wards in Toronto where council voted on the sixplex policy, with only 9 opting in.
• 2023: The year the city council first voted on the sixplex policy, which Chow failed to publicly campaign for or speak in support of.

Sources:

• Sabrina Maddeaux. (2023). The idea that Olivia Chow was going to be Toronto's housing champion was always a fantasy. National Magazine Award winner.
• TVO's mayoral debate, 2023.