Leslie Macfarlane and her husband faced a tough situation last year when they were evicted from their mobile home park in a Vancouver suburb. Their home was set to be demolished for a new low-rise apartment complex. The news hit Macfarlane hard, filling her with anger and fear about their future.
At 67 years old, Macfarlane knew finding affordable rental housing in the expensive Lower Mainland would be a challenge. She was right. Their search for a new place proved fruitless. They found that their housing costs would nearly triple, jumping from about $1,100 to $3,000 for an apartment that offered less space. Eventually, they decided to leave the city and move back to Macfarlane’s hometown of Gibsons, a small coastal community in British Columbia.
Macfarlane reflected on how things have changed over the years. “When I was raising my children, if you had a job, you could afford a place to rent,” she said. “That’s not the case anymore.” Now, expenses in Gibsons are high, especially for groceries. She mentioned that as prices go up, she’s buying less food, noting, “It’s getting to the point where we’re buying hand baskets of food per week instead of carts.”
For Macfarlane, the issues of housing affordability and rising grocery costs are central to the upcoming federal election on April 28. The overall cost of living in Canada has become a significant concern, especially since the pandemic. Inflation rates soared during the pandemic, peaking at 8.1 percent in June 2022, the highest increase since 1983. While inflation has slowed to 2.3 percent now, prices remain elevated compared to 2020.
Many Canadians are feeling the pinch from rising costs, particularly for everyday items like food and fuel. David Macdonald, an economist, pointed out that inflation hits people hard when it comes to their regular purchases. He noted that housing affordability has been a long-standing issue, worsened by rising interest rates. Since March 2020, average rents across Canada have surged by nearly 18 percent.
Some Canadians, including Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, argue that high immigration rates contribute to the housing crisis. Poilievre criticized the government for allowing the population to grow faster than the housing supply. Trudeau’s government had ramped up immigration targets post-pandemic to address labor shortages, but this rapid influx has strained housing markets in major cities.
The affordability crisis has affected many, including newcomers to Canada. Shahad Ishak, who immigrated from Kuwait in 2013, shared her struggles. She mentioned that when she arrived, buying a house seemed possible, but now it feels out of reach. She faced challenges finding rental housing due to a lack of credit history and had to take low-paying jobs despite her experience.
As the election approaches, Canadians are looking for solutions to make housing more affordable. The political landscape has shifted, especially after Trudeau announced his resignation in January amid declining support. Mark Carney has stepped in as the new Liberal leader, and polls suggest he may lead the party in a different direction.
While many Canadians remain frustrated by rising costs, some feel their anger is shifting towards international issues, particularly concerning the U.S. As they head to the polls, affordability remains a pressing issue, with voters eager for change.