What ON really needs is rent control that protects those more affordable units on tenant turnover: real rent control tied to units, not tenancies as is the case now.

Rental dot ca stats used in other markets, showing similar results, but there is little relief for tenants.

New rental stock in that area is partly responsible for the increased vacancy rates, though the high rents may also be moving people to other parts of the city. International students probably don't play a very important role in either of these.

Falling asking rents at $1647 for a one-bedroom (per LFP and rental dot ca) is considerably higher than the mean rent. Which means landlords are still able to reposition more affordable market rents, notably in the area between Downtown and the university, which already has the highest mean rents.

First, rents in London rose 4.6% last year, which is higher than the provincial average of 3.8: www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/hmip-pimh/en...

In fact, some of the areas with the highest vacancy rates still saw above average rental increases. Average rents are still increasing.

London rents fall for eighth month, among fastest declines in Canada Rents in London went down on a year-over-year basis for the eighth straight month in February

Data on falling rents from rental.ca in London ON (and elsewhere) is misleading: lfpress.com/news/local-n...
Data looks at asking rents. The underlying reasons for the declines are also a bit rich. 1.

30 Years Later, It Looks Like Jesse Jackson Won the Economic Argument The civil rights icon’s progressive ideas were sidelined during the centrist Clinton years, but they’re ascendant in the Democratic Party today.

Jesse Jackson was a far-sighted leader. Had the Democrat establishment understood what historical moment they were operating in back in 1988, there would be no MAGA movement today. Fair trade liberalism, not free trade neoliberalism, would have triumphed: newrepublic.com/article/2066...

Alas, the US was the big surplus country after 1945, and the American delegation scuppered any broader mandate for the IMF. And today, we are living with the consequences of over-reliance on market mechanisms (that don't meet human needs), and a lack of international cooperation.

China Announces Record Trade Surplus as Its Exports Flood World Markets

At Bretton Woods in 1944, huge export surpluses were actually a problem anticipated by Keynes and that the British delegation proposed to address through the IMF - not just punishing deficit countries, but also forcing surplus countries to adjust as well.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/b...

Catholic Vice President Vance takes to social media to justify killing of Renee Good After the tragic shooting of Renee Good at the hands of ICE, the Catholic vice president of the United States took to social media to justify the killing.

"Vance’s twisted and wrongheaded view of Christianity has been repudiated by two popes. His Catholicism seems to be little more than a political prop, a tool only for his career ambitions and desire for power": www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-...

Durs lendemains de veille pour les banques alimentaires Alors que l’esprit des Fêtes s'estompe, les banques alimentaires comme celles de Moncton, au Nouveau-Brunswick, font face à leurs mois les plus maigres.

Le recours aux banques alimentaires est en hausse de 45% au #nbpoli depuis 2019. Pas mentionné dans l'article c'est le fardeau imposé par la perte fulgurante d'unités de logement locatif relativement abordable. #logement #faim via @iciradiocanada.bsky.social

ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/221...

The Sunday Editorial: Venezuela’s fate is a warning for Canada U.S. military action to seize Nicolás Maduro marks the formal debut of an imperial America

I am not sure the Globe's understanding of the Melian dialogue offers as much hope for Canada as they seem to think it does: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/092ff77... #Thucydides #Venezuela #Melos #Athens #Imperialism

Barcelona and Madrid have very different ideas on tackling Spain’s housing crisis. Which will succeed? | Jaime Palomera While the country’s capital is loosening regulations, the Catalan city is strengthening social housing. Their outcomes will affect all our futures, says author and researcher Jaime Palomera

Great piece on housing, very relevant to #nbpoli and #cdnpoli given the rise of investment-owners (the great housing grab) and the growing affordability crisis. Plenty of suggestions for provincial and municipal leaders.
@jaimepalomera.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Gracias Raul!

Gringolandia. Migración Norte-Sur y desigualdad global • Matthew Hayes Gringolandia es el nombre de un barrio en la ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador. Se lo ha bautizado así por los migrantes estadounidenses que se han instalado en la llamada "Atenas del Ecuador". ...

El libro de @matthewfhayes.bsky.social está disponible en español:

abyayala.org.ec/shop/todos/g...

Para quienes tenemos intereses de investigación relacionados con gentrificación transnacional, migración norte-sur, Hayes ofrece una visión interesante que combina turistificación con gentrificación.

With about 1/3rd of the housing mkt being bought by investors, Ontario Bill 60 will increase the cost of housing for everyone. It will make it easier for speculators to raise rents, thereby also increasing what they are willing to pay to own rental units. #onpoli

www.thestar.com/real-estate/...

It’s Not a Migrant Crisis—It’s a Political Crisis - Public Seminar The so-called crisis at the border is not because 10,000 people are arriving per day, or that the country doesn’t need immigrants, or that it is impossible to process large numbers. The real crisis is...

Feeling this is really relevant now in Canada, given what the federal Liberals are about to do: publicseminar.org/2024/04/its-... #cdnpoli

Logement subventionné : elles demandent des réparations et voient leur loyer doubler La santé publique leur a donné raison, mais le propriétaire a retiré l'appartement du programme.

Il y a un grand imbalance de pouvoir lorsqu'un propriétaire peut retirer du programme de prestation d'aide au loyer avec seulement 60 jours de préavis. Ça crée des abus qui pèsent sur les gens qui dépendent d'un logement abordable: ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/220... #logement #nbpoli

Mother and daughter say their concerns over mould, air quality in subsidized unit cost them their subsidy | CBC News A disabled mother and daughter in Fredericton say they were pushed to the brink of homelessness after a four-year battle over mould, poor air quality, and insect problems in their subsidized apartment...

This is a deplorable case, not least because it demonstrates the flaws in the rental subsidy program. Subsidizing private landlords who can withdraw from the program with 60 days notice leads to major abuses of power. This case is the tip of the iceberg: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #housing #nbpoli

Left column: Under the RTA, all tenants have "security of tenure", which means that tenants have a right to remain in their rental unit as long as they follow the lease agreement and the RTA. Landlords cannot evict tenants without a legally valid reason, and after a fixed-term lease ends, the tenancy typically continues on a month-to-month basis. Right column: The government would consult on alternative options on lease agreement expiry that could allow landlords to control who occupies their units and for how long, allowing them to adjust tenancy arrangements based on market conditions, personal needs, or business strategies. This could add flexibility for some landlords in the approach to leases, potentially unlocking additional rental unit stock.

In particular, they want leases to no longer necessarily remain in effect indefinitely, so that landlords have more options for creating tenant turnover.

Current situation in left-hand column, proposal on the right:

The Ford government has announced plans to shred a bunch of tenant protections: news.ontario.ca/assets/files... (pdf, see p. 13-15)

Money, muscles and anxiety: why the manosphere clicked with young men – a visual deep dive The manosphere is known for misogyny, but that’s not the only thing that influencers in this space offer. Young men explain the allure and the problems of the manosphere in their own words

Why the manosphere clicked with young men. One of the best analyses I have seen, definitely worth the time: www.theguardian.com/technology/n... #publicsociology

Still believe in a two state solution? Want to help stop the illegal settlement expansion? The UN just released its updated list of companies from 11 countries still operating in Occupied Palestinian Territories. They include Airbnb, TripAdvisor, and Booking[dot]com.
www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...

Anatomy of the 1987 Blue Jays collapse — cold bats, an injured shortstop and a real-life scare No matter what transpires this weekend, the final-week stumble in Detroit remains the gold standard for baseball collapse, certainly locally.

First time the Blue Jays broke my heart, memories from 1987: www.thestar.com/sports/blue-.... Not mentioned in the article was Cecil Fielder getting thrown out on a steal attempt (imagine). Next pitcth, Manny Lee tripled (he was stranded).

Fredericton's Take Back the Night March is sacred. Its violation is a major public safety issue for the city. Solidarity with Sexual Violence NB, its volunteers, and supporters. #nbpoli

Frédéric Lordon, Endgame — Sidecar Zionism and its destiny.

A lucid response to the two-state distraction in Palestine: newleftreview.org/sidecar/post...

Half of young Canadians spending more than 50% of earnings on rent New survey data suggests it is increasingly difficult to limit rental expenses to one-third of income

Wealth inequality in action, reproducing more wealth inequality. Past time to act: www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/pe...

Caving on the Digital Services Tax is looking like a great move right now. I wonder if Trump expects Carney to cave again. #cdnpoli #elbows

My understanding: many of the units along the hill that used to house students now house families - a major demographic shift that occurred in 2020-21.

I think UNB and STU might take them up on building more housing, but there is no federal or provincial money to help get it done and no internal funds either. Then there is also risk, which the unis can't afford to take on: will the residences pay out LT? So they rely on the market instead.