Ron Butler, a Canadian mortgage broker and commentator, used his Twitter account on April 6, 2026, to criticize government policies affecting the housing market in Canada. In a series of posts, Butler argued that all levels of government have contributed to the decline in single-family home construction, which remains the preferred choice for most Canadians.
In his first post at 14:37 UTC, Butler wrote: “Let’s Just Admit It: All Levels Of Government Have Worked To Destroy The Type Of Housing Most People Actually Want
For the majority of Canadian they’re dream of Homeownership is still a Single Family Home
But we don’t build many anymore
And it’s clearly intentional
2/”.
He continued at 14:37 UTC: “Since 2018 in Ontario 80% of all New Residential Construction Starts had been Hi-Rise
In 2026 there’s basically no New Residential Construction at all
But it’s clear the switch from Single Family Homes to something “other” like a Hi-Rise Condo or a Townhouse is real
3/”.
In another post at 14:37 UTC, Butler stated: “It’s as if some Provinces & Municipalities tried hard to kill Single Family Housing
Yet a Single Family Home is still the aspirational home for the majority of Young Canadians
Hell, even Middle Aged Canadians: the average age of First Time Buyers is 40
People want them
5/”.
The issues raised by Butler reflect ongoing debates within Canada regarding housing affordability and supply. In recent years, there has been a notable shift toward high-rise developments and multi-unit dwellings in urban centers such as Ontario. Policy decisions at provincial and municipal levels have often focused on increasing density through zoning changes and incentives for apartment or condominium construction rather than single-family homes. This approach aims to address population growth and land scarcity but has led to concerns about limited options for those seeking traditional detached houses. Demographic data also indicates that many Canadians continue to aspire to own single-family homes despite these trends.
