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[Editor\u2019s note<\/strong>: This letter, signed by 27 prominent B.C. experts in urban planning and architecture, was sent last week to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister of Housing Gregor Robertson, and was cc\u2019d to, among others, B.C. Premier David Eby, B.C. Minister of Housing Christine Boyle and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. One can download the letter here<\/a>.]<\/p>\n July 22, 2025<\/p>\n To: The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada<\/em> Re: Advancing Housing Affordability Through Bold, Evidence-Based Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n We are a Metro Vancouver region-based group of urbanists, urban planners, architects, developers, and UBC\/SFU academics, most with decades of experience, who have joined together to broaden the search for enduring housing solutions. While our primary focus is on Vancouver, our comments below are also applicable to cities across Canada that are also struggling with affordability issues.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s housing crisis demands a reset in how we use public policy to achieve affordability. The current market correction presents an opportunity\u2014not a threat. Governments should not bail out speculative development models, but instead use this moment to invest in non-market housing, preserve existing affordability, and ensure that public subsidies serve long-term public outcomes.<\/p>\n 1. Canada\u2019s housing strategy must deliver affordability\u2014not just more supply<\/strong><\/p>\n Canada\u2019s housing crisis is, above all, a crisis of affordability. Supply has increased significantly in cities like Vancouver\u2014where housing starts have outpaced population growth for decades\u2014yet prices remain disconnected from incomes.<\/p>\n Vancouver provides one of the most comprehensive real-world tests of this theory. Between 1960 and 2020, it increased its housing stock by over 200% while population grew by only 78%\u2014more than any other North American central city. Yet its housing affordability declined dramatically, and it now has the highest home price-to-income ratio on the continent. (See attached Appendix A illustrations)<\/p>\n This data, drawn from Statistics Canada and U.S. Census sources, suggests that increasing housing density alone is insufficient to produce affordability. Without addressing land value inflation, financial speculation, and tenure security, supply-side interventions risk worsening the very crisis they aim to solve.<\/p>\n 2. Use the market correction as an opportunity\u2014not something to resist<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. Public subsidies must deliver public benefit outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n 4. Preserve what\u2019s affordable\u2014don\u2019t displace it<\/strong><\/p>\n 5. Reform delivery and financing models to align with residents\u2019 needs<\/strong><\/p>\n 6. Rebalance costs and benefits between all orders of government<\/strong><\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n We encourage and support building more affordable, livable housing rather than continuing to build the wrong kinds of housing, in the wrong places, for the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n We believe the federal government can lead the way by restoring affordability as the central objective of housing policy. That means resisting short-term pressure to rescue flawed models and instead embracing long-term investment in public, non-profit, and community-led housing. It also means preserving existing affordability, and building new homes that serve real people, not just markets.<\/p>\n We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to explore how these strategies can shape a more sustainable and just housing future for all Canadians.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Cc: *****<\/p>\n Signed:<\/p>\n David Ley, <\/strong>OC, FRSC, PhD, Urban Geographer, Professor Emeritus UBC, Order of Canada.<\/p>\n Christina DeMarco<\/strong>, Urban and Regional Planner, former lead planner for the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy.<\/p>\n Penny Gurstein<\/strong>, PhD, MCIP (ret.) Professor Emeritus and Former Director, School of Community and Regional Planning, Co-Director, Housing Research Collaborative, UBC<\/p>\n Larry Beasley<\/strong>, CM, FCIP, Former Co-chief Planner of Vancouver, author Vancouverism<\/em>.<\/p>\n Patrick Condon<\/strong>, Professor UBC School of Landscape and Architecture, author Broken City<\/em>. Former city planner, James Taylor Chair in Landscape and Liveable Environments.<\/p>\n Scot Hein<\/strong>, Retired Architect MAIBC\/Former COV and UBC Senior Urban Designer and Development Planner\/Adjunct Professor Urban Design UBC\/SFU Faculty Continuing Studies\/Founding Board Member Urbanarium\/Board Member Small Housing BC\/Housing Advocate<\/p>\n Brian Palmquist, <\/strong>award-winning architect and author, <\/strong>AIBC MRAIC BEP CP LEED AP<\/p>\n Arny Wise<\/strong>, B. Comm., M.Sc.(Planning) U of T, Professional Planner MCIP, RPP (retired), Board of Directors, Toronto Economic Development Corporation (1990-1999).<\/p>\n Sean McEwen<\/strong>, Architect, AIBC, FRAIC. Affordable housing advocate.<\/p>\n Barbara Gordon<\/strong>, Retired Architect AIBC and retired Director of Capital Planning, UBC<\/p>\n Lance Berelowitz, <\/strong>AA Dipl RPP MCIP, Principal Urban Forum Associates<\/em>.<\/p>\n Michael Geller<\/strong>, FCIP, RPP, MLAI, Ret Architect AIBC, urban planner, real estate consultant, developer and Adjunct Professor, SFU.<\/p>\n Elizabeth Murphy<\/strong>, private sector project manager formerly with the City of Vancouver\u2019s housing and properties department, BC Housing and BC Buildings Corp<\/p>\n Bill McCreery<\/strong>, BArch UMan; Sub Lt. RCNR, helped create North and South False Creek and thousands of units of developer & public housing in Vancouver.<\/p>\n Graham McGarva, <\/strong>FRAIC, Retired Architect AIBC, M.A.<\/p>\n Erick Villagomez, <\/strong>Lecturer, UBC School of Community and Regional Planning, <\/strong>Principal, M\u0113tis Design|Build<\/em>, <\/strong>Editor-in-Chief, Spacing Vancouver.<\/em><\/p>\n Norman Hotson, <\/strong>Retired Architect AIBC, FRAIC, RCA, HonPIBC.<\/p>\n Mary Pynenburg <\/strong>MRAIC (Retired) MCIP (Retired).<\/p>\n Robert Renger<\/strong>, BES, MCP; Consultant City Planner; Former Senior Development Planner and City\u2019s lead for UniverCity at SFU, City of Burnaby.<\/p>\n Andy Yan, <\/strong>FCIP, RPP, GISP Director, City Program, Lifelong Learning and Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Urban Studies Program, Simon Fraser University.<\/p>\n Tom Phipps<\/strong>, Retired Senior Planner City of Vancouver (33 years)<\/p>\n Sandy James, <\/strong>former City of Vancouver City Planner, Managing Director, Walk Metro Vancouver<\/em>.<\/p>\n Ralph Segal<\/strong>, MAIBC (ret.) Former Chief Urban Designer, City of Vancouver.<\/p>\n Elvin Wyly<\/strong>, PhD, Urban Geographer, Housing Researcher.<\/p>\n Mary Beth Rondeau<\/strong>, Ret Architect AIBC Former Urban Designer City of Vancouver<\/p>\n Frank Ducote<\/strong>, Principal, Frank Ducote Urban Design, former Senior Urban Designer, City of Vancouver<\/p>\n David Wong<\/strong>, Architect, AIBC; formerly with Engineering & Planning Dept. City of Vancouver<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n APPENDIX A<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Notes and Illustrations<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Illustration #1<\/strong><\/p>\n Illustration #1 \u2013 This highlights Vancouver\u2019s achievement compared to other North American central cities, showing that Vancouver increased its housing stock by 200%, despite only a 78% increase in population. Source: Patrick M. Condon and Thomas Kroeker, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe Honourable Gregor Robertson, MP, Federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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\nPaul Halucha<\/em>, Deputy Minister, Federal Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Canada Honourable
\nDavid Eby<\/em>, Premier of British Columbia
\nHonourable Christine Boyle<\/em>, MLA, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, BC
\nTeri Collins<\/em>, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs
\nMayor Ken Sim<\/em> and Council, City of Vancouver<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cityhallwatch.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/graph-housing-growth-n-american-ctr-cities-1960-2020-condon-kroeker-1.jpg?w=1024\")
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