Asking homeowners to own their wealth and put it to work - with Michelle Cyca

Generation Squeeze's Hard Truths

We spoke with journalist Michelle Cyca about one of the hardest truths we grapple with (and which gets us a lot of hate mail). Skyrocketing home prices have made many older Canadian homeowners rich, while making housing unaffordable for younger generations. But many homeowners resist thinking of themselves as wealthy, especially whenever the subject of fair taxation comes up. So how do we get more homeowners to recognize their wealth and put it to work fixing our housing crisis?

We also discuss the high, personal stakes of housing unaffordability; how it’s changing Canadian neighborhoods and society; why "just move somewhere affordable" isn't a solution; and street parking.

Michelle Cyca is the editor of Indigenous-led conservation coverage for The Narwhal and a regular contributor to The Walrus, Maclean’s, and many other publications.

Dig deeper:

• The End of Homeownership by Michelle Cyca in Maclean's
• Homeowners Refuse to Accept the Awkward Truth: They’re Rich by Michelle Cyca in The Walrus
• Attention older, affluent homeowners: Let’s put our housing wealth to work by Paul Kershaw in The Globe & Mail
• Is a bedroom for the cat a sign of Canada's new housing aristocracy? by Paul Kershaw in The Globe & Mail