Canadian officials slammed for deeming $1.7k bachelor apartments 'affordable'
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is under fire on social media this week for claiming a new B.C. apartment building — with micro units starting at $1,700 — was an affordable option for low and middle-income Canadians.
"I am here at Hudson House. You can see amazing views all around me. This is an apartment building with 227 apartments for low and middle-income Canadians, and it was built thanks to our Apartment Construction Loan program," she says in a video clip posted to X.
We’re building more homes, faster, right across the country — and it was great to visit one new example in Victoria, BC, with beautiful new apartments for low and middle income Canadians. Check it out! pic.twitter.com/FS4mAuEMJX
— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) March 12, 2024
What Freeland failed to mention in her video was the price of the units.
According to the Hudson House pricing page, a 330 square-foot micro unit starts at $1,700 per month.
A larger 630 square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit costs $2,680 per month, and a two-bedroom, two-bath 816 square-foot unit costs $3,315 per month.
According to the latest rent report from Zumper, Victoria is the fourth-priciest market in Canada, with one-bedroom units averaging $2,030 and two-bedrooms priced at $3,150 per month.
Still, these averages are lower than some of the units being offered at Hudson House.
Folks in the comments were quick to point out Freeland's omission, criticizing her for being "out to lunch."
"Low and middle income families? LMAO. Not quite," said one X user who pointed out how much the units are going for.
Low and middle income families? LMAO. Not quite.
— Underboob Jess (@Buffbabe3) March 13, 2024
• 330 sqft, zero bedrooms, 1 bath - $1680/month
• 480 sqft, zero bedrooms, 1 bath - $1825/month
• 581 sqft, 1 bed (finally you get bedroom), 1 bath - $2410/month
• 630 sqft, 1 bed, 1 bath - $2640/month pic.twitter.com/F4F4l2yw7n
"You lost the plot," one person remarked in the comments.
"Most 'low income' people I know can't afford prices starting from $1,825 for a studio let alone anything larger," remarked another.
Another person called out the deputy prime minister for failing to mention the prices in her video.
I am older enough to remember when middle class was 3 bedroom detached, not 1 bedroom box. And you owned it, not rented.
— Andrew Bailey 🍎 (@NervousNed64) March 13, 2024
"You wouldn’t dare to reference the rent prices … because they aren’t affordable and low to middle-income families can't afford them, and you know it!" they wrote.
Another X user reminisced about what "middle-class" living used to be like when it came to looking for a home
During her visit to the Hudson House, Freeland, who is from Alberta, also managed to irk folks from the Prairie provinces with her comments about B.C.
It’s safe to say the Liberals have lost complete touch with how people
— Ryan Gerritsen🇨🇦🇳🇱 (@ryangerritsen) March 12, 2024
think & feel. Freeland just proves my point. pic.twitter.com/0XyEGRncNj
"For Prairie people, the real-life version of dying and going to heaven is to move to B.C.," she said.
Many on social media remarked that Freeland had once again “lost touch" with her comments.
"She has lost touch with reality," wrote one person. "Wow, how arrogant…?" said another.
Others felt that Freeland needed to apologize to people in the Prairie provinces for her comments.
@cafreeland think you need to apologize to everyone in the prairie provinces & retract your statement
— Mark& sheila (@markwatts45) March 12, 2024
Despite Freeland's claims, it seems that many in B.C. are looking to leave due to the high cost of living.
An exclusive study conducted by Mustel Group found that among 750 B.C. residents, 33 per cent, or one-third, have entertained the idea of relocating to another province.
Mustel Group's study revealed that Alberta and Ontario were the most popular choices for people considering leaving B.C.
photocosmos1/Shutterstock | Hudson House
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