There is a saying that while Rome burned, Nero fiddled. The expression is meant to suggest indifference and disconnect to his people.
While Canada burns, Canada’s Prime Minister and First Ministers, met in Saskatoon last week to fiddle with a list of ‘nation-building‘ projects that includes critical mineral extraction, nuclear energy projects, ports expansion but let’s be clear, pipeline expansion dominated the list.
By all reliable scientific accounts Canada’s 2025 wildfire season is taking place earlier, is worse than previous years and is fueled by climate change. Over 200 wildfires are currently burning across Canada. The destruction and impact on communities and health is catastrophic and disproportionately impacts Indigenous peoples. Tens of thousands have been made homeless, if not permanently than temporarily and tentatively that is, until next time.
See Fire Weather. The Making of a Beast by John Vaillant for a graphic analysis of the 2016 Fort McMurray fire.
David Suzuki, who we should all listen to, reminds us in his rabble.ca column of the deleterious environmental effects of removing fossil fuels from the ground and transporting them across vast tracts of land. He argues for a sound alternative nation-building energy solution, a renewable-powered integrated electricity grid throughout the country.
No doubt, the behind-the-scenes machinations of the oil industry at this moment in time, could be an entirely new chapter in Naomi Klein’s groundbreaking book Shock Doctrine. The country is in an existential crisis; there is money to be made so what better time for greed capitalism.
I don’t know what was said by First Ministers behind closed doors but in their ‘love-in’ (a term the Prime Minister himself used in the House of Commons) press conference in Saskatoon I didn’t hear any words about housing as infrastructure, housing as lifesaving, housing as job creation, housing as nation-building. But I imagine I saw dollar signs flashing in the ministers’ eyes.
I do understand the need for infrastructure projects with a focus on fast. Who wouldn’t want to see improved and expanded rail traffic across the country? Who wouldn’t want to see safe drinking water achieved in northern Indigenous communities?
The First Ministers’ statement from Saskatoon bends over backwards to suggest it will include Indigenous consultation and pay attention to communities priorities and needs, particularly around safety. Their focus on the latter includes criminal justice reforms and dealing with fentanyl.
The word housing or home is not mentioned once.
Meanwhile, First Ministers returned home.
Without exception they went home to overflowing shelters, people forced to sleep outside, growing encampments and squats, high illness and death rates due to homelessness, long wait lists for social housing, housing starts impeded by red-tape bureaucracy and ‘not-in-my-backyard’ opposition.
Surely, housing qualifies as nation building. It certainly was after World War II as Prime Minister Carney recently reminded us in TV ads and in the Liberal housing platform yet to be initiated.
The federal government’s introduction of a National Housing Strategy in 2017 may have started a dribble of housing. However, the federal auditor reported numerous problems including that many housing builds were unaffordable and did not benefit those most in need.
Without doubt, the numbers of people in core housing need and who are homeless has increased across the country since the introduction of the National Housing Strategy.
Canada needs a ‘housing pipeline’ to address the 2.6 million people in core housing need. The issue needs nation-building focus and speed.
While politicians dream of mega-projects they should remember the concepts of equity, care and compassion that are built into Canada’s legacy: pensions, unemployment insurance, Medicare, housing and more recently dental care, and childcare.
Housing is nation-building.
A Canadian Housing and Renewal Association study has shown a relationship between community housing and economic productivity.
People in affordable homes can be more productive, and their productivity helps the overall economy. Having a home means more options for a future ranging from studying to work to better health and community. It means more money in your pocket to put back into the local economy.
Housing construction can benefit Canadian companies, including modular home companies, local building material industries, and can fuel innovations such as low-carbon housing.
Housing builds create good construction jobs and opportunities for youth through funding skill-training at colleges and universities.
Several national housing organizations have joined forces to create a brilliantly named housing plan ‘A Sovereign Plan to Protect Canadians and Build a Resilient Housing System.’
I count 22 federal housing ministers since I’ve been a Street Nurse. It’s time for the federal government to get serious.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
