Blog Post

Last week, the Government released its highly anticipated Spring Economic Update. I, along with many across the country, tuned in with cautious optimism. What followed was a speech that felt deeply disconnected from the realities of life in Canada, one that had little to say to the millions of Canadians who are struggling to make...

Last week, the Government released its highly anticipated Spring Economic Update. I, along with many across the country, tuned in with cautious optimism. What followed was a speech that felt deeply disconnected from the realities of life in Canada, one that had little to say to the millions of Canadians who are struggling to make...

By Leilani Farha & Richard Brooks Canada’s six largest banks just reported their highest quarterly profits on record. RBC’s earnings jumped 29% to $5.4 billion. CIBC climbed 16% to $2.2 billion. Even TD, amid restructuring costs and anti-money-laundering penalties, saw adjusted profits rise 22%. All six banks beat analysts’ estimates as capital markets surged and...

World Cities Day 2025 celebrates “People-centred Smart Cities”—a vision worth pursuing and one that requires that we explore what it means to truly center people in our vision of the future.   The smart city narrative promises elegant solutions: sensors, algorithms, and data analytics making cities more efficient, sustainable, and livable. Yet across cities worldwide, these...

October 6 marks Urban Crisis Response Day, a moment to examine not just how we respond to crises, but what questions guide our responses in the first place.   Cities worldwide face what leaders call a “housing crisis.” They have largely defined this crisis as a crisis of supply, rather than what it truly is:...

Last month, the Taskforce on Affordable and Sustainable Housing (TASH) submitted critical feedback to the European Union as part of a call for evidence regarding the EU’s development of its first-ever affordable housing plan. The initiative aims to address the housing crisis affecting millions across Europe, but TASH’s response highlighted significant gaps that demand attention....

In April of this year, The Shift brought together experts and municipal leaders for the Beyond Tents: Rethinking Encampments webinar, to explore how a human rights approach can transform local responses to homelessness. As part of the tools provided to attendees, we created the Human Rights Scorecard for cities to assess how well their current...

As we reflect on the first quarter of 2025, The Shift continues to advance housing rights across Europe and beyond through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and knowledge sharing. Our team has been engaged in several initiatives that are helping to reshape housing policy and strengthen the role of cities in addressing housing challenges.   Rome: “All...