A different, and better, future is possible for communities across Canada.

Imagine a prosperous zero-emissions economic future for communities across Canada. A future where communities live well; where children can safely play in shaded areas and go to school close to their homes; where seniors can easily get to their doctor, the grocery store, and the bank through accessible public transit; and young people can obtain jobs, afford a home, and start a family.

Across Canada, this vision is emerging and becoming a reality. But it may be challenging to see this vision as more than just a dream for your community. There are lots of questions that make it challenging for Canadians to feel confident in a future where these issues are sufficiently addressed within their own communities and where their livelihoods are thriving.

Yet all Canadians can have the issues that matter most to them sufficiently addressed, and all communities across Canada can advance this vision of a thriving future.

And PLACE is doing work to help support this movement.

Read our Vision Paper to read more about our vision for the future, and what work we're doing to support communities.

our work

Less is More: Where we Build 5.8 Million Homes Matters
November 13, 2023

There is a broad consensus that Canada is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation has estimated that 5.8 million homes, nationally, need to be built by 2030 in order to address the housing affordability crisis. In Ontario, the provincial target is 1.5 million homes. As part of […]

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Getting International Students To Stay and Work in Canada is at Odds with Our Policies
October 4, 2023

International students are an invaluable part of the prospective Canadian workforce that can help address the critical skilled labour shortages facing many Canadian industries, including construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. However, Canada’s current policies are at odds with the objective of having international students stay and work in Canada. If this is unaddressed, Canada will fail […]

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Addressing Forestry’s Skilled Labour Shortage: Insights from Women Working in Forestry
September 19, 2023

Canada’s forestry sector is facing a labour shortage due to a wave of baby boomer retirements and little interest from younger generations to pursue a career in forestry. Despite the need for more workers, women still comprise only 17% of the sector in Canada. One study also found that women in forestry are rarely in […]

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Working Together to Build 1.5 Million Homes
August 17, 2023

To keep up with an aging and growing population, it is projected that Ontario will need to build 1.5 million homes in the next ten years. Yet, Ontario has never built more than 850,000 homes in a ten-year period. Who is responsible for making this 1.5 million homes goal a reality, while making it happen […]

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National Housing Accord: A Multi-Sector Approach to Ending Canada’s Housing Rental Crisis
August 15, 2023

Rents have been increasing rapidly in many parts of the country, primarily caused by a lack of accessible, climate-friendly, affordable, and market-rate purpose-built rental units to house a growing population. Increasing rents inflict the most significant harm on the lowest-income Canadians, including seniors, people on fixed incomes, single-parent led households, students, newcomers to Canada, and […]

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We know Canada has a labour shortage. What should we do about it?
August 10, 2023

As Canada advances clean growth and climate action, tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of roles could be created in regions across the country. However, sectors are sounding the alarm about a challenge this growth could create: it may very well worsen labour shortages. This concern is valid. Without finding more skilled workers, increases in […]

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