Over 60% of Canadians Say No Level of Government Is Doing Enough on Housing
January 17, 2025
We continue our examination of Canada’s housing crisis in partnership with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada). This study explores public opinion on the role of government in the current housing landscape, based on a survey of 6,000 Canadian adults aged 18 and older, conducted from September 26 to October 9, 2024.
It is important to note that, while this research was conducted prior to the return of Donald Trump and his renewed threats of tariffs, as well as the resignation of Justin Trudeau and the Liberal leadership race likely leading to a spring election, the housing crisis remains a pressing issue for many Canadians. Challenges with affordability and accessibility continue to impact millions of Canadians, highlighting the need for housing to remain a top priority amid political and economic uncertainty. This report offers an important snapshot of public opinion on these challenges and the role of government in addressing them.
Views on the Main Causes of Canada’s Housing Crisis
When examining the main causes of the housing crisis, Canadians highlight several key factors. Nearly half (49%) point to insufficient affordable housing being built as a primary driver, while 46% cite high mortgage rates making homeownership more difficult. Population growth outpacing housing supply is identified by another 46%, and 44% attribute the crisis to the high costs associated with building new homes.
Political affiliations reveal differing perspectives on the root causes. Federal Conservative supporters are more likely to emphasize high mortgage rates, population growth, construction costs, and the role of foreign buyers. In contrast, federal NDP supporters are significantly more likely to blame the lack of affordable housing being built, developers prioritizing profits over affordability, insufficient government action, and a shortage of rental properties. Federal Liberal supporters, however, do not stand out as significantly more likely than Conservatives or NDP supporters to identify any one specific cause. These differences highlight how political leanings shape views on the underlying issues driving Canada’s housing crisis.


Attribution of Blame for Housing Difficulties
Canadians are clear about who they believe is making it harder to buy a home. Financial institutions are cited by 45% as key contributors, while 43% hold builders and developers responsible. Government at all levels is also widely blamed, with 42% pointing to the federal government, 40% to provincial governments, and 38% to municipal governments. Conservative supporters are particularly likely to attribute blame to all three levels of government. These findings highlight the perception that both private sector actors and government policies are impacting Canadians ability to purchase a residential property.

When it comes to renting, 45% of Canadians believe the private sector, including landlords, bears the most blame. The federal and provincial governments are also cited by 39% each, while 36% hold builders and developers responsible. These responses highlight that frustrations extend beyond homeownership, with Canadians viewing both public and private sectors as significant contributors to the challenges of renting as well.

Widespread Dissatisfaction with Government Leadership on Housing
Canadians express significant dissatisfaction with the leadership shown by governments at all levels in addressing housing affordability. Specifically, 77% are dissatisfied with the federal government’s leadership, 74% with provincial governments, and 70% with municipal governments. Dissatisfaction is particularly pronounced among federal Conservative and NDP supporters, who report higher levels of discontent compared to federal Liberal supporters.

Further, three in five Canadians believe no level of government is doing enough to address the housing crisis – 68% percent say the federal government has not done enough, 65% criticize provincial governments, and 62% feel their municipal government is falling short.

This widespread dissatisfaction highlights a critical gap between public expectations and government action in tackling housing crisis, including experiences of homelessness.
Expectations for Accountability and Leadership
Canadians believe all levels of government share responsibility for solving the housing crisis, with 65% pointing to the federal and provincial governments and 53% to municipal governments. Beyond government, 19% of Canadians think developers and financial institutions should also bear responsibility.

Trust in leadership to resolve the housing crisis remains low, with only 29% of Canadians believing Pierre Poilievre has the best strategy, while just 19% trust their municipal or provincial governments. In contrast, non-governmental entities inspire greater confidence, with 36% trusting non-profits and 33% trusting community organizations to drive progress.

This creates a notable disconnect between who Canadians believe should take responsibility for solving the crisis and who they trust to deliver meaningful solutions. While governments are seen as primarily accountable, the lack of trust in their leadership highlights a pressing need for governments to rebuild public confidence by engaging with trusted partners, such as non-profits and community organizations, to address the housing crisis collaboratively.
Preference for Collaborative Solutions
Nearly half of Canadians (45%) favor a collaborative approach involving government, private, and non-profit sectors to tackle the crisis. Meanwhile, 33% believe governments should take sole responsibility. This preference highlights the public’s desire for a coordinated, multi-faceted strategy to address housing challenges.

Potential solutions focus on increasing housing supply and affordability through innovative approaches. 46% of Canadians support adopting faster, more efficient construction methods to address growing housing demand. Similarly, 46% advocate for federal policies that encourage municipalities to reduce development charges, making it more cost-effective for developers to build new homes. These strategies highlight public support for practical measures that could help alleviate the housing crisis by addressing both supply and affordability challenges.


Housing a Key Issue for Voters
Housing affordability is set to play a critical role in the next election. Over half (54%) of Canadians rank it as a top issue, with support particularly strong among younger voters aged 18-44 (58%-60%) and urban residents (59%).

Despite housing being a top priority for many Canadians, there is widespread skepticism about the ability of party leaders to address the crisis effectively. Only 31% believe Pierre Poilievre and the CPC have a viable housing strategy, while even fewer, 18%, view the NDP as having an effective plan. Further, Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party were viewed as having the most effective strategy to address housing by just 16% of Canadians.
Furthermore, 21% of voters remain undecided on which candidate offers the best approach, and 12% believe none of the current candidates have policies capable of addressing the issue. This uncertainty underscores a critical opportunity for political leaders to step forward with bold, clear, and actionable strategies that resonate with voters and rebuild trust in their ability to tackle one of Canada’s most pressing challenges.

The Upshot
The findings of this survey highlight the widespread dissatisfaction Canadians feel with government leadership on housing, with significant blame placed on federal, provincial, and municipal governments for failing to address the crisis. This dissatisfaction is not only a reflection of frustration with the current housing challenges, and growing experiences of homelessness, but also a critical signal to political parties as they prepare for the next election. Canadians are not just demanding action – they are looking for leadership that understands the depth of the problem and presents tangible solutions at all levels of government.
Understanding this dissatisfaction is essential for political parties seeking to build trust and connect with voters. With housing affordability ranking as a top priority for over half of Canadians heading into the next election, parties that acknowledge these concerns and outline clear, credible strategies for long-term solutions stand to gain significant political capital. This is particularly important as Canadians increasingly look for leadership on the issue, signaling a need for government to rebuild public trust by demonstrating competence, innovation, and collaboration.
The housing crisis cannot be solved with short-term fixes. Canadians are calling for a comprehensive approach that not only addresses immediate affordability issues but also ensures long-term sustainability. For political parties, this is both a challenge and an opportunity to demonstrate bold leadership, develop policies that resonate with voters, and position themselves as the drivers of meaningful change in one of Canada’s most pressing issues.
Methodology
The survey was conducted with 6,000 Canadian adults from September 26 to October 9, 2024. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.
The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 1.27%, 19 times out of 20.
The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region.
This survey was paid for by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada). Abacus Data follows the CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements that can be found here: https://canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/searchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/
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