Many Canadians in their 20s and 30s are delaying starting families, with high rent cited as a significant factor. A recent study found that 55% of Canadians aged 18-34 said the housing crisis impacted their decision to have children.
Case in Point: Anna Smith
Anna Smith, 27, and her partner live in a 500-square-foot apartment in Toronto’s east end for $1,550 per month. Smith, a University of Toronto graduate student, has been postponing starting a family for two years due to space and financial constraints. “It’s heartbreaking,” she says, expressing her desire to provide her future children with a different upbringing than her own parents, who had her in their mid-40s.
Canada’s Rental Crisis
Canada’s rental market is experiencing a crisis, with demand outstripping supply, leading to soaring prices and dwindling availability. A recent CBC News analysis revealed that fewer than one percent of rentals in Canada’s largest cities are both vacant and affordable for most renters. Two-bedroom or larger units are particularly scarce, with only 14,000 such rentals potentially available and affordable for median-income families—just 0.5% of the market.
Impact on Family Planning
This housing crisis is causing many young Canadians to delay or forgo having children. Statistics Canada reports that the total fertility rate dropped to 1.33 children per woman in 2022, the lowest in over a century. Affordability concerns are a major factor, with 38% of young adults (aged 20-29) in 2022 believing they couldn’t afford to have a child in the next three years.
Personal Stories:
- Zach Robichaud: Robichaud, 37, from Kitchener, Ontario, wanted a large family but has had to settle for one child due to financial constraints. Despite both he and his wife having full-time jobs, most of their income goes to their $2,000-a-month rent. “It’s really kind of sad that [my daughter] won’t have that same sort of support system,” he says.
- Survey Insights: A study by Abacus Data and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) found that 55% of Canadians aged 18-34 said the housing crisis affected their decision to start a family. Additionally, 28% of those wanting children were postponing due to housing affordability, and 27% were choosing to have fewer or no children for the same reason.
Expert Opinions:
Karen Lawson, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, highlights the long-term implications of delaying children. “They may have fewer children than they wanted because of their shortened reproductive window, or they may face fertility problems,” she says. Lawson suggests that societal support for a more “parallel” life path model, allowing young people to achieve financial and housing security while starting families, is necessary.
A Bleak Outlook:
Smith and her partner, both scientists, find it challenging to balance their careers and family plans within the high-cost urban centers where their jobs are available. “Everything we hoped for just keeps moving further and further out of our grasp,” she laments. Robichaud shares a similar sentiment: “I have never made more money in my life and I’ve never been poorer.”
Conclusion:
The high cost of rent and the broader housing crisis are forcing many young Canadians to delay or reconsider starting families, reshaping their life goals and expectations. Addressing the housing affordability issue is crucial to support the aspirations of this generation.