Rent control is not an option, as far as I'm concerned...as others have said, it's unfair to owners and won't do anything to increase available housing--in fact, the overall effect would be the opposite. So, say we go to subsidies for low income renters....can that be done fairly? For two AISH recipients in similar circumstances, would it be fair to subsidize the rent of one who chooses to live in Calgary's beltline while ignoring another who chooses to live in, e.g., Nanton? One chooses to live where he can afford to live, and the other expects a handout to live where he wants to...? Of course it's not fair.
I wonder how much of people's concern for the low-income crowd is related to altruism, and how much is related to selfish interest in their own quality of life?
I'll agree that Calgary's quality of life is dropping slightly due to the unavailablity of unskilled labourers...it sucks to go to Wendy's and find it closed due to staffing problems. However, this is something that will correct itself, one way or another. It may take some time, but that's the way markets work.
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