this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2025
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Lol fuck no, free market for housing isn't the solution, land lords raising pricing to whatever they feel like the market will bare is not superior.
It obviously and empirically is. We dont have a housing crisis in Alberta. Our landlord tenant board actually works. And we dont have renoviction issues that need legislation to fix. Rents are MUCH more reasonable than Ontario. And we have had a massive influx of new residents from ON and BC, the two provinces with strong rent control, because our system is far better for both tenants and landlords.
It obviously and empirically isn't.
https://www.abchamber.ca/policies/a-pathway-to-fixing-the-affordable-housing-crisis-in-alberta/
If by works, you mean caters to landlords at the expense of tenants, then yes it works. If you by works you mean acts as a tool to resolve disputes, then no, it doesn't
https://www.aspirepeakproperties.com/post/landlord-friendly-provinces
And the massive influx dropped from last year? https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/why-everyone-s-moving-to-alberta-again-and-why-it-won-t-last/ss-AA1JdjLJ
So no, in no way is it empirically, or "obviously" better.
Being a haven for landlords means less favorable housing for renters.
The "affordable housing crisis" in AB is no different than the "affordable housing crisis" across Canada. And the fact is that housing outside our two major centers is quite a bit BETTER than most provinces. My friend just bought a house for 199k last year in a mid size town here and I just got very lucky and bought one two days ago as a rental in a small rural town for 65k. You cant get much more affordable than a 2 bedroom house with a massive lot for 65k ANYWHERE in Canada.
And our landlord tenant laws are quite fair. Yes there are some distinct advantages for landlords compared to ON but we also have plenty of cases of LL's being taken to the RTDRS and getting judgments against them too. All in all its a pretty balanced system. If it wasn't people would be flooding OUT of AB to other provinces. They're not. People moving here with a net interprovincial increase for the last few years means empirically that renters see this is a better place to live.
Check out the net interprovincial migration stats: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710002201 We import nearly as many new people as Ontario does except we're a province of 5 million and they are 16 million, so proportionally our immigration is the highest in Canada, three times higher than Ontario. People dont move for WORSE housing conditions.
So, as to your first point, Alberta is facing the same challenges, so it's not "creating" housing. Yes, see as a land lord you are creating a solution to a problem you make worse. The laws aren't fair, as you just admitted to, by saying there are distinct advantages to the landlords, it's not balanced. PEOPLE are moving to Alberta because there is a temp "boom" for petro chemicals again, but, they are likely to leave just as "en mass" as they have in the past. There are less people moving to Alberta then at the start of the year. That doesn't "empirically" prove that renters see it as a better place to live.
Empirical means statistically verifiable verifiable by observation not just an theory. I dont what part of that is hard for you to understand. The stats dont lie.
Heres another: Average house price in AB: 495,000. Average house price in ON: 852,000. Not hard to see why people are moving.
There isn't really a petro boom this time either. Oil and gas is doing fine but its not going crazy and booming like it was 20 years ago. We actually have fairly high unemployment of 7% considering the mass influx, but thats not stopping people from coming here. They're coming because ON and BC are completely unaffordable now and AB has some great advantages not the least of which is no provincial sales tax.
I am well aware of what empirical means, you are saying the empirical evidence is due to the province being pro landlord, I am saying it's not. There are many factors as to why people move, lower rent is part of it, but you're framing it as the sole reason. Another great advantage of the no provincial sales tax is lower quality public services! You are clearly pro landlord, and i am against. We will not see eye to eye.
No I said the advantage is free market demand pricing for rentals and housing, not the failed rent control system of ON and BC. Thats not pro landlord nor pro tenant, it follows the market. I have raised rent when demand was high and I have lowered rent and offered incentives when demand was low. Its superior to rent control because when LL's in ON and BC get a meager 1 or 2% they never want to give that up because they are already falling behind market pricing within a few years. It works. And its better. Which is why people are moving here in droves. You are entitled to your opinion but the data CLEARLY supports my point of view. People dont move for WORSE housing conditions.
"Free" market demand is instinctly pro landlord, the people who own get to set prices and work to price others out. It's only superior for the societal leaches that are landlords. People were moving to ab more sure, but it's not solely due to rent. The data dies not prove your point, they will absolutely move to ab for worse housing conditions if that's all they can afford. Your logic is flawed
You just called more affordable housing 'worse'. And you think I have flawed logic? Ok then.
You also seem to think we're leaches. Pretty obviously bigoted, which explains why you dont believe in logic or empirical data. But you do you my friend. Good luck with that attitude.
Affordable absolutely can be worse, see slum lords. Not flawed in the slightest. Yes landlords are leeches, they are providing a "service" that wouldn't need to exist if it weren't for them. Your mental gymnastics are why you don't understand what logic or empirical data is, lol. Good luck to you too!
I must bow to your superior logic and debate tactics :)
👍