Vancouver, Canada – Leslie Macfarlane, facing eviction from her mobile home due to a redevelopment project, struggled to find affordable housing in Vancouver’s expensive market, leading her to relocate to Gibsons, where rising grocery costs further strain her finances. The Canadian affordability crisis, exacerbated by post-pandemic inflation—reaching an alarming 8.1% in 2022—has intensified housing challenges, particularly in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, where rents increased nearly 18% since March 2020. Critics, including Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, blame high immigration rates for worsening housing shortages, arguing that population growth outpaced housing availability.
