Big city mayors seek affordable housing help from federal parties

Canadian mayors are pushing the federal parties to make affordable housing an important election issue before Oct. 19.

That'sbecause they say it relates to the most critical topic of the campaign: the economy and jobs.

"Canadian cities are facing an affordable housing crisis," said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, adding the issue is "holding back" families and the economy from moving forward.

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"In big, expensive cities, it is becoming increasingly difficult and often impossible for lower-income, working people to find a place to live that's affordable," Toronto Mayor John Tory said.

The two leaders spokea news conference Thursday morning in Toronto. The big citymayors representingEdmonton, Halifax, Vancouver,Kitchenerand Londonstood united in their plea for helpto address an issue that is notjust a social issue, but also an economic one, they say.

It should be noted and nosurprise that in the two cities most expensive to buy a house in Canada, Toronto and Vancouver,the mayors of those citiesare leading the charge in voicing their concerns.

"The double whammy is no affordable housing within any reasonable distance of their work and no transit to take them to work from a place they can afford to live," Tory said, urging federal leaders to take a "hard look at housing policy" after revealing a "relativelack of attention to this issue" during the election campaign.

This will become a competitive disadvantage for job creationif it's allowed to continue in Canadian cities, Toronto's mayor noted.

"Businesses are figuring out that this is not sustainable for the maintenance and creation and attraction of jobs to our cities, which are the engine of growth in this country," Tory pressed.

Social housing assistance

The goal for the big city mayors issimple: make affordable housing an election issue so it is addressed.

"We have to see clear focus and specific commitments if they're going to take the Canadian economy seriously moving forward," Robertson said.

How else can the federal government assist cities?

"We have to ensure that housing built in the past is maintained and repaired,"Robertsontold reporters.

Tory saidIn Toronto, "we have a huge bill for the repair of social housing that's in existence today and we need some federal help with that."

Tory also suggestedsome of the surplus federal lands can be used for government housing.

"There's no reason not to," headded.