Affordability Now

Mark Carney’s economic plan for Building Canada Strong is a medium-term project but Canadians shouldn’t have to wait years for meaningful financial relief. Generation Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw explains how small changes to Canada’s federal budget could easily unlock the funds needed to provide greater and more widespread affordability measures for Canadians who genuinely need help now—and do so far more effectively than simply waiting for long-termeconomic growth to arrive.

“Is Canada Failing the Next Generation?” Generation Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw joins award-winning lead columnist at the National Observer, Max Fawcett on his podcast Power Lines⁠. This is a replay of that episode. Their conversation sheds light on the growing generational divide in Canada and explains how reforming retirement income supports might be Canada's best shot at restoring affordability for all!

Government budgets shape how we live – and how we feel. The consequences of government policy choices can be seen in new research on happiness. While, baby boomers remain relatively happy, the average life satisfaction of Canadians under age 30 is in steep decline. Gen Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw unpacks why young Canadians are increasingly miserable and what we can do about it.

Old Age Security is the largest program expense in the federal budget and is a driving force behind the federal deficit. A new national poll shows 3/4 of Canadians, including seniors, support reform so that benefits are reduced for higher-income households, and the savings are repurposed to eliminate seniors’ poverty and improve affordability for younger generations. Generation Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw explains why OAS reform was once politically untouchable and how things have changed.

Canada’s National Housing Strategy is the federal government’s main plan for tackling housing affordability. The strategy expires in 2027. If it isn’t renewed, federal housing spending will drop by more than half. Gen Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw unpacks what’s at stake and why a housing system that works for the next generation can’t be built on ever-rising home prices for the last.

Canada’s Armed Forces have reportedly begun modelling responses to a U.S. invasion. Among the ideas said to be under consideration is a civil defence corps – potentially a million residents trained and organized to strengthen national resilience. Before we ask Millennials and Gen Z to shoulder yet another obligation of national service, we must acknowledge the many ways we already oblige them to sacrifice. We must also ask older Canadians to reciprocate by rebuilding fiscal policy to be fair across generations, and future-oriented.

Most gains from economic growth today flow to prioritiestied to older Canadians — retirement income support (Old Age Security) and medical care — leaving less for housing, child care, post-secondary education, and climate action. This is happening even as younger Canadians pay more income tax to support seniors than boomers did when they were younger.In this episode of Hard Truths Pod, Generation Squeeze founderDr. Paul Kershaw explains why essential services — like health care, education, and child care — should remain universal at the point of entry and why cash subsidies (like Old Age Security) work best when they’re targeted based on need, not just age.

This week's episode is a feed swap with Planetary Conversations– with host Warren Bell. Planetary Conversations is a podcast that showcases ways to create a world where everyone in the human family and all living things have an assured place, and where every one of usis truly able to make a constructive and creative contribution. Host, Dr. Warren Bell interviews guests who have, in one way or another, taken steps towards improving life on our planet. Dr. Bell is a family physician who has practiced medicine for nearly fifty years and is co-founder of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) a voice for justice. On this episode, Warren interviews GenSqueeze founder and director, Dr. Paul Kershaw on the topic of generational fairness and the long list of policy changes Canada needs to make to get us there. Planetary Conversations Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.  It can also be found on-line at voice of the Shuswap.ca or on the radio at CKVS-FM 93.7 The Voice.

It’s no secret, GenZ and Millennial Canadians are finding it harder and harder to afford the basics: rent, child care fees and tuition. In this episode of the Hard Truths pod, Generation Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw introduces a new study by Generation Squeeze: “Medical Budgets in an Aging Canada”. He points out a hard truth and draws an important connection: The rising costs of medical care for retirees is crowding out the investments needed to address the affordability challenges faced by younger generations.

Most Canadians believe that Canada's Old Age Security benefits act as a safety net, lifting struggling retirees out of poverty. But in this episode of the Hard Truths pod, Generation Squeeze founder, Dr. Paul Kershaw explains the hard truth: Some seniors with two homes, seven-figure portfolios, and six-figure incomes are still collecting OAS. And not just a token amount — retired couples with $180,000 in income still qualify for roughly $18,000 a year in OAS benefits. Paul dives deep into The Globe and Mail's "Financial Facelift"column. Every weekend, financial experts help Canadians fine-tune their retirement plans. The advice is smart and methodical, showing how to make the most of tax and benefit rules. But those columns also reveal something deeper —how our most expensive federal program, Old Age Security, has drifted from protecting retirees from poverty to padding the comfort of affluence .