Generation Squeeze - Ep 89 - Conversations That Matter

Episode 89

Paul Kershaw - Generation Squeeze

Conversations That Matter features Paul Kershaw of Generation Squeeze says Vancouver is on the cusp of becoming a generational ghost town. “By that I mean the ability for a young adult to make their way in this region in any way that approximates what we thought was becoming the norm just a few decades ago is now further out of reach.” Kershaw says many are opting to leave and that he points out introduces a host of other problems, “ how over a few decades do you sustain the vibrancy of our economy and how do you keep an inter-generational space where you have young adults caring for their aging parents, you have aging parents caring for their grandchildren? These kinds of things are being squeezed.”“

Kershaw says the pressure on the housing market is complex, it includes a move from rural to urban and immigration, “That creates some pretty straightforward supply and demand factors.” And no where is it more expense in Canada than Vancouver, the average number of work years required to buy a house nationally is 12 years, in Toronto it’s 15, in BC it’s 16 and in Vancouver it’s 23 years of saving to afford a 20% downpayment on a home.

Conversations That Matter is a partner program with the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Join veteran Broadcaster Stuart McNish each week for these important and engaging Conversations shaping our future.

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