Roundup: Government land isn’t a slam dunk

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You have probably heard a lot of talk from both Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh about the federal government not doing enough about housing with the lands that they own. Poilievre is making grandiose promises about all the houses they’ll build on it, and all of the office towers they’ll convert, never mind that conversions are difficult and in many cases impossible because of how those buildings are structured, while Singh is demanding that any government-built housing on public land be “affordable,” never mind that there is still a need for market-priced housing, because otherwise wealthier households are competing for the same “affordable” spaces as low-income households if your supply is constrained. (Singh also believes that the federal government can build all of this housing on their own, as if they’ll hire the planners, architects and contractors on their own—not really feasible).

Meanwhile, just building on government-owned land is actually easier said than done. Why? Mike Moffatt lays out a lot of those reasons here:

https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt/status/1726577611722355121

Ukraine Dispatch:

Ukrainian forces have been focused on containing attempted Russian advances near Bakhmut, while two people were killed in Russian shelling on Kherson. There was also a grenade blast that killed two in Kyiv, the cause of which remains unclear. Ukraine’s two top cyber defence officials have been sacked as an investigation into alleged embezzlement is ongoing in the cybersecurity agency.

Good reads:

  • The prime minister takes time off at a lesser rate than most Canadian workers, but lo, it is framed in such a way to make it look outrageous and be used in shitposts.
  • Today’s Fall Economic Statement leaks include billions for housing, some of which will be loans, and finalizing the details for carbon capture project tax credits.
  • Steven Guilbeault pledged to appeal the Federal Court decision overturning the plastic ban (but he may also want to get to work drafting amendments).
  • The latest round of international negotiations on plastic pollution have ended up in deadlock, as Canada is set to host the next round of talks.
  • CSIS says that foreign threat actors are taking to social media to amplify disinformation and draw young Canadians to their causes.
  • The CRA is applying some penalties and clawbacks related to the pandemic wage subsidy after audits found some companies didn’t qualify.
  • The external monitor for culture change in the Canadian Forces is point out how slow the process is, and how some policies contradict one another.
  • The Stellantis plant is bringing over some Korean workers to do installations of proprietary equipment, and absolutely everyone freaked out about it.
  • The stakeholders the government consulted on their proposed online harms bill are wondering what is taking so long (other than it’s hideously complicated?)
  • A group of Canadian MPs are on a “solidarity trip” to Israel.
  • The Commons transport committee will be taking a look at accessibility concerns on Canadian airlines, particularly after a couple of egregious incidents.
  • Preston Manning wrote to federal Conservatives urging them to weaponise his nonsense COVID panel report as part of the next election.  No, seriously.
  • The Saskatchewan government is in yet another slap-and-hair-pull fight with the federal government, this time over the pavilion at COP28 in Dubai.
  • Justin Ling recounts what Ehud Barak told the Halifax International Security Forum about the current situation in Israel, and how Benjamin Netanyahu is an obstacle.
  • Paul Wells reflects on what he heard at the Halifax International Security Forum, both on the state of the world, and on the perceptions of Canada’s place within it.
  • Colin Horgan lays out the creation of “Little Canada” that Pierre Poilievre inhabits, as a sign of where modern conservatism has devolved to.

Odds and ends:

My Loonie Politics Quick Take points out how narrow the tightrope that Chrystia Freeland needs to walk for her fall economic update.

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