Parking: The not-so-hidden problem making our housing crisis worse

Canada’s economy is increasingly unfair to young people. Sometimes, it feels like we’ve made great progress in getting politicians to recognize this fact. Other times, they propose policies that make me wonder if they’ve been listening at all. Despite spouting easy slogans and platitudes about understanding the generational inequity young Canadians face, governments often choose to protect the privileges of long-time property owners at the direct expense of younger Canadians trying to build a future. Right before the summer break, Toronto City Councillor Alejandra Bravo directed staff to study whether it makes sense to limit the number of parking passes a multiplex may qualify for. The motive for this motion is clear: they want to placate single-family homeowners who are upset that added gentle density to their neighbourhoods might force them to park a few doors down. CBC, for example, tells the story of a woman who says she now has to sometimes drive several blocks to find a spot, which can be frustrating when she’s carrying groceries or driving her elderly mother to visit. But what of those (often young) families in the multiplexes themselves? Don’t their grocery runs or care visits deserve the same consideration? Cara Stern discusses how parking policies in Canada exacerbate the housing crisis for young people. She highlights the tension between single-family homeowners and multiplex residents, arguing that limiting parking permits for multiplexes unfairly privileges established homeowners while penalizing younger families. As urban areas densify, younger Canadians face challenges in finding affordable housing, often settling for smaller living spaces. The article calls for a fairer approach to parking access that does not disadvantage those in multiplexes, advocating for policies that address generational inequities in housing. Ask about this article — or anything in Canadian politics, economics, and public policy — powered by The Hub’s 5,000-article archive and deep area expertise. Comments (0)