Ford is very corrupt. Your right they weren’t worse than the LPO/LPC but that doesn’t mean they weren’t corrupt too.
I have tremendous respect for Ford as a politician- he's got combination of... genuineness?, pragmatism, and flexibility that makes him teflon. He's just a semi-likeable dude doing a job, and when he gets caught out we all shrug as if to say "eh, that's just Dougie, carry on"
I've met both Ford and Bonnie Crombie a few times (pre and during her tenure as Mississauga Mayor). Super minor/short interactions. A couple of public events and a dinner with Ford, a few events with Crombie. Ford has always seemed a genuinely affable guy, and actually talks to you. People I know have more time with him and worked with him and are positive about him, at least as a person to interact with. That doesn't mean he's a good premier, I'm firmly in the camp of he's the best of bad options, and have serious concerns about corruption with his government. I'll also probably be voting for him in the next election because I don't know that anyone better is going to be stepping up, and much of Ontario's probably in the same boat.
Lots of factors on the cost of living crisis. The fact we stopped making public housing in the 90s is a slow burning one which has had very long term effects.
Yes there are. And the cost of living crisis isn't limited to the housing crisis. But the housing crisis is a massive part of it. And land use planning and housing are provincial files (municipalities are delegated extensions of provincial jurisdiction and accountability that Ford is ultimately accountable for, and have been a huge driver. He's been at the wheel for coming up on 8 years, and arguable actively contributed to the problem.
The cities of Toronto and Mississauga are the economic drivers in Ontario and arguably they set the prices. Toronto in particular charges less than 20,000 for a typical building permit. But then they zap you with a 137,000 development fee. They have done this to prevent having to double property taxes: they have some of the lowest rates in Ontario. None of that has anything to do with Doug Ford. With these kind of fees new builds are out of sight for most people and so the price of re-sales goes up and that is without the demand pressure of people moving into the city. Since people can't afford Toronto they move out to the sticks. From Toronto prices drop slightly as you move out with some exceptions. Burlington charges just under 100,000 but their building permits are higher. Niagara Region is less than 50,000 for both but taxes are higher. But you know all that. It just isn't possible to provide all the services people demand without racking up the debt (which municipalities can't do), increasing property taxes (which will cost the councilors their jobs) or hiking fees. Pay for your own medical expenses, animal control, and daycare; hire a local farmer to plow your road; buy a truck load of gravel every 6 months to spread on that same road and you will reduce government costs and thus the costs of building a house. (sarcasm) But please stop blaming Doug Ford for this. He wears it for a bunch of stuff but not the price of housing.
Municipalities serve as a delegated extension of provincial authority. Passing the buck downhill is lame especially when he's shown a wanton willingness to trample all over the same municipalities when the mood strikes him.
Bullshit. The crown comes with accountability. We have fundamental issues that are within his constitutional jurisdiction.
Housing in the GTA is controlled by a handful of privately owned companies. The smart ones (think Mattamy) have a number of smaller, separate companies under them. Company A is in charge of buying in the land. They in turn sell it to Company B for the development process. Company C then buys the individual lots to be built on and sold. Companies, A, B and C are all owned by Company D. Each of them are expected to earn a set amount of return for Company D.
What does that represent?
private residence either detached, semi or townhouse. A re-build as you describe I believe is considered renovation.
So a full 10% of the value of a 1.35million house just this.
Please say what the solution would be? I am genuinely curious as to what steps are available to him? I can buy a detached home outside of Toronto for 350,000 what possible action can the premier initiate that will reduce prices in the GTA whilst not destroying the housing market elsewhere considering the price of construction is over 150 a sq. ft. without tarriffs.
