CollingwoodToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to an article about Bill 23, published Dec. 23.
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This article cites a Collingwood planning report, saying, “Increased housing supply doesn’t necessarily mean more affordability.” I must look into that claim further. Give me some time.
Meanwhile, as someone who aced economics 101 (kidding), I’m shocked to read this. If you increase the general housing supply in our region, purchasing and rental costs should obviously slip — unless there are interfering factors, like real estate industry collusion.
Ideally, in my view, we need more rental apartments in the Georgian Bay area competing for young or older renters who otherwise can’t afford to live near where they may work.
After renting for some time, sharing accommodation with friends or simply moving out of their parents’ basement, young folks may someday eventually think about buying a home in our inflated market. Or not.
The important thing is to create more housing options. More housing, not less, should bring affordability. With due regard to environmental limits in our area, of course.
James Dalziel
Collingwood
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