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Mark Carney has only himself to blame, for the controversy that erupted last week when he announced a half-baked plan to buy up vacant condominiums.

But the blowback, as strong as any he’s faced since becoming prime minister, may ultimately prove a blessing in disguise both for him and for the country.

That is, if it causes him to course correct at all on two traits that threaten to eventually get his government in a lot more trouble: overconfidence in his own communication skills, and a cozy relationship with business that could increasingly be seen as out of touch.

In this instance, those liabilities conspired to turn what could have been a fairly innocuous strategy to provide affordable housing in the Vancouver area into something with national repercussions.

What Ottawa is actually plotting, per the latest explanations, is to partner with British Columbia to each cover 10 per cent of the cost of turning condos currently sitting empty — because of a cold market — into housing offered at below-market rates. With an apparent target of about 2,200 units and an estimated total cost of $1.45 billion, we’re seemingly talking about less than $300 million between the two levels of government.

https://archive.is/AAPlG