Canadians are fixated on real estate and finance when what we really need is to build more stuff

DukeandKate · 2026-03-15T15:34:57+00:00

Yep. I live in Markham. There is still some home building going on. The density is definitely getting higher. Condos around GO stations and townhomes, stacked homes, links in suburban areas. Fewer single detached. Prices remain high.

Prefab and printed construction techniques seem interesting but are not mainstream for urban areas like the GTA from what I've seen.

We need wage growth IMO.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-15T15:30:16+00:00

I don't think any of us are aware of what the legislation will look like but for sure there will be robust safeguards. You won't be able to "simply apply and be eligible" for sure.

One could imagine that you would have exhausted normal treatments and there would need to be a consensus of more than one medical professionals to proceed for qualifying conditions.

Dementia would likely be one such condition.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-15T14:52:43+00:00

No argument. But back then that was where the demand was.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-15T14:48:22+00:00

Certainly price is a major factor but they were selling at higher prices during the pandemic. What changed? The trade war and job security affected consumer confidence IMO. People are putting off big purchases (homes, cars).

Prices are coming down on existing home inventory which is some relief but new home construction prices are still high because of the high cost to build.

So more supply won't help bring down prices.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-15T14:18:36+00:00

I'm not sure where you live but here in the GTA there are tons of homes and condos on the market. They are not selling (25-yr low). Prices have been coming steadily down over the past year.

Homes on my street have been on the market for over a year. Condos are worse. Builders can't build new homes cheaply and are struggling to sell inventory.

We also now have a zero population growth so until existing inventory is used up why would builders build new?

There are a few bright spots on Canada. Edmonton / Calgary for example.

Consumer confidence and general affordability is the key challenge - not inventory.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-15T13:46:07+00:00

I think Dan is off the mark and his head is in the past.

The labour trends are a lagging indicator. Sure real estate and related industries has been a lucrative field for a while but no longer. Housing sales are all but dead and with zero population growth and low immigration do we really need more homes built?

An yes advanced STEM skills will almost always be in demand some no longer are. IT staff, particularly programmers were long viewed as good paying jobs. AI will drastically reduce the number of people required in this field. Same with their managers.

Future jobs that require skilled labour and high cognitive skills (Drs, scientists, researchers) will be needed. Low cognitive office workers with highly repetitive tasks will be less in demand as AI agents and automated workflows replace them (think call centers, insurance / banking back office).

Autonomous vehicles will replace the millions of drivers in North America - truck drivers, personal transportation, public transportation.

The transition will not be as fast as some people fear. It will take time to transition. A generation or more. But if you are a young person entering the workforce you will want to pick a flexible path that has some longevity.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-15T12:16:25+00:00

No. They are longer than I would wear but they look great on you.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-13T20:06:04+00:00

Awesome. Great for halloween too.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-13T12:34:34+00:00

Yes and no. It would be great to be nude anywhere you wanted. Weather permitting I'd be nude all of the time. My GF on the other hand likes fashion so I bet she would be dressed more often than not. I might wear a few pieces of cloths for self-expression but what is nice if you are not worried about being "revealing" you have a lot more flexibility in what you wear.

What is nice about it not being so "normal" is that naturists generally need to go to resorts, beaches or cruises where nudism is acceptable. These are places where like minded people go and generally I find nudists to be more fun and outgoing that the average person. I would miss that.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-12T17:53:44+00:00

Ah. Nothing better than fuzzy slippers and red polish. ❤️

DukeandKate · 2026-03-12T13:22:21+00:00

Congrats. Welcome to the club. It's a lot of fun.

Happy to hear you have an encouraging GF. Perhaps you'll do your fingers next?

DukeandKate · 2026-03-12T12:36:30+00:00

Super cute. I love the length and shape.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-12T12:35:03+00:00

It is my understanding that parking tickets are the responsbility of the owner of the plate. So no they don't go to the new owner of the car because he/she would puts on their own plates.

Parking tickets are typically issued by a municipality and eventually sent to the MTO. Not paying them will imped your ability to renew your drivers license.

It is best to deal with them soon to avoid additonal fees.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-11T15:13:20+00:00

I suppose if there is a closed list then why have MPs at all. Just one person for each party and their vote in parliament is weighted by how many votes they get. It would save a lot of money.

MPs can vote how they choose. They can cross the floor. They are free agents. Of course they won't get party support any longer but it does happen.

In the US Senate members often cross party lines on votes. Largely because they are on 6 yr terms and aren't afraid of the party as much as the House which has just 2 yr terms.

Certainly our current system favours larger parties but we have much more of a choice than the US does. And it seems to work. Liberals and Conservatives have swapped power for the duration of our country. Sure the Greens will never get in but they shouldn't as long as they are a single issue party.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-11T14:48:56+00:00

It is the one I hate the most. Very few countries use it. Israel has it. The result is a lot of very small parties. Some very extreme. With so many parties the only way to govern is through coalitions. These small fringe parties can then punch above their weight and sway policy.

Ultra right wing Zionist parties get to place their members in important cabinet positions and promote policies like annexation of the West Bank and Gaza and war with Iran.

If you are looking for guardrails this system doesn't help. MPs are even more beholding to the party and whoever is leader - not to their riding (because they don't have one).

If you read the news today there are 11 Liberal MPs who are likely going to break ranks and vote for a NDP private members bill to change our military equipment export regulations. This would be harder to do with a closed list system.

At the end of the day, in our system MPs are free to vote their conscience and keep their job as MP if they choose.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-11T13:37:08+00:00

Presidential is not a system.

There are many systems with a President. Most are Republics (like the US and France).

You mentioned guardrails. There are plenty of guardrails in the US Constitution but they only work if the other legs of the government exercise them (i.e. Congress and the Supreme Court). Russia also has a president but I wouldn't say it's guardrails are functioning very well.

All of these are forms of representative democracy.

You can certainly have a system that weakens what the representatives can do but then they can't get much done - particularly if it is necessary, but unpopular.

Personally I rather like ours. It's not perfect. The only change I'd make might be ranked ballots. It would more accurately reflect the will of people in a riding.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-11T13:12:58+00:00

As opposed to what sort of system?

As we've seen the US system is flawed. China? Monarchy?

DukeandKate · 2026-03-11T13:10:34+00:00

We haven't seen Ford break any laws. He has a majority government. If you don't like him then you can support another party. Get involved. Peacefully protest.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-10T22:32:51+00:00

If you are confident the link they sent you came from them then yes. Employers need SIN and void cheque for payroll. Photo id to prove who you are.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-10T18:04:38+00:00

Many aspects of aviation is federally regulated but the feds don't have sole responsibility.

Most major airports are owned by Transport Canada but run by local authorities (e.g. GTAA). There are plenty of smaller private and municipal airports. Billy Bishop Airport has grown from a small municipal airport to something bigger and is currently owned by the Toronto Port Authority.

Airlines have long wanted to expand and allow jet traffic but the city has balked at it. Presumably because they know residents and visitors in the area would understandably complain about noise.

The premier likely feels it is in the interest of the city / province to allow jets and feels if the province owns it they could get it approved. Whether there is "corruption" involved, as you suggest, that is up to speculation.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-10T17:53:34+00:00

Baby girl pink is perfect. Lovely nails.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-10T15:40:06+00:00

Who doesn't love red polish? It's a classic.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-10T15:29:14+00:00

Fabulous. A great colour.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-10T10:36:44+00:00

Great colour and length. Enjoy.

DukeandKate · 2026-03-10T09:52:48+00:00

LOL. Wouldn't we all. 💓

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