The Canadian Real Estate InvestorThe Cowichan Case, Rent Control Reversal & The Bank of Canada's Mixed Signals
We cover three major shifts in Canadian real estate:
- BC Land Ownership: The Cowichan Tribes won a land title ruling in BC Supreme Court, challenging ownership certainty since 95% of BC is unceded land. This creates risk for developers and lenders due to legal ambiguity.
- Ontario Rent Control: The government quickly abandoned plans to consult on "security of tenure" rules, showing the political power of tenants — over 50% of Toronto households rent. This reflects a shift toward renter-driven housing policy.
- Interest Rate Uncertainty: The Bank of Canada is signaling fewer rate cuts than expected, with markets pricing in a "pseudo-pause". This creates challenges for both homeowners and renters.
The common theme: power is shifting in Canadian real estate — Indigenous nations reclaiming land, tenants reclaiming policy, and the Bank trying to reclaim inflation control.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | BMO Global Asset Management
