# Canada’s Housing Crisis: Suburban Migration Signals a Call for Change

Residents of British Columbia share their struggles as they adapt to a new normal in search of affordable housing.

Chilliwack, British Columbia, has witnessed a surge of people relocating from Vancouver, as high housing costs push them away from the major urban hub. Janet Robertson, who lived in her Vancouver apartment for two decades, found herself evicted and left with no option but to seek affordable housing nearly 60 miles east in Chilliwack. “I really didn’t have any other options but to come to Chilliwack,” she said, highlighting the exodus of former city dwellers seeking refuge in the countryside.

Chilliwack, which was once viewed as a remote farming community, has morphed into an appealing destination for those priced out of Vancouver. The growing trend is evident across many of Canada’s urban centers, where skyrocketing housing prices have increasingly made homeownership a fantasy for first-time buyers and pushed renters out of their homes. Dubbed a "full-blown crisis" by many, housing affordability remains a significant issue among the electorate, influencing their decisions for the national elections scheduled for April 28.

Statistics reveal that urban areas in Canada now rank among the world's priciest locations for homeowners. In Toronto, for example, the typical price for a single-family home has surged to approximately 1.4 million Canadian dollars, translating to around $1 million, indicating a steep increase from 970,000 dollars, or $700,000, in 2020. With rising costs continuing to impact communities, the call for political action and viable solutions has never been more urgent.