Student advocates say providing universities and colleges with funding for housing construction would allow universities to pull Canadian and international students into campus settings, where housing is cheaper and simpler to build.

“When you build student housing … they do not have to have the same amenities that a luxury condo does,” Afousi said.

That’s what I was saying! Except, sometimes universities do allow luxury condos on campus. To which, I think there should be stipulations that all luxury suites are put on hold, otherwise the university will not be eligible for grants to build more student residences.

“It’s one of my fears,” Miller said in a recent interview with CBC News. “I do worry about the stigmatization of particularly people of diversity that come to this country to make it better, and that includes international students.”

This is a lingering concern. International students are one of the few groups that the Liberals have called out in respect to the housing crisis. If they ignore that numerous corporations are buying up housing stock either as investments or for rentals, while only talking about international students, then those students are going to be scapegoated.

Frankly, the Liberals need to ‘grow a pair’ and dare to speak out against some of their ‘stakeholders.’ Yes, they run the risk of fouling up some business and professional relationships, but as the polls are showing, the alternative is to be voted out of office. To which, why fall on your own sword for the sake of lobbyists?