Author Archives: urbanrenaissanceinst

Rent control’s wreckage

(May 8, 2003) Rent control has helped a great many homeowners. Because it all but ended the building of new apartment buildings in Toronto, Winnipeg, and other rent-controlled cities, potential renters, with nowhere to go, have been streamed into condos and houses, pushing up residential real estate value. Continue reading →

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London congestion charging

(May 1, 2003) What is the congestion charge? The congestion charge is a levy, initiated by the Mayor of London and administered by Transport for London (TfL), on each motor vehicle entering the designated charging zone. Continue reading →

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Toll skeptics be damned: London’s rolling

(May 1, 2003) In mid-February, London began charging private vehicles £5 to enter its central core. The outrage that the press and other pundits predicted didn’t occur: The toll has soothed rather than seethed Londoners. The losers from this radical experiment are almost nowhere in sight. The winners can be found all round. Continue reading →

Posted in Automobile, Cities, Public transit, Regulation, Toll roads, Transportation | Leave a comment

Widening the gap

(April 30, 2003) If Ontario Premier Ernie Evees makes good on his promise, today’s Throne Speech may outline a provincial plan for mortgage interest income tax deductibility. This plan echoes a proposal that the federal Tories have made nationally. Continue reading →

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Homeless by decree

(April 24, 2003) “We cannot have homeless people in our society. It’s just wrong, “Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson stated three years ago during one of her tours of the country. “As long as there are any, it will be on our agenda.” Continue reading →

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