Loyalty Programs A Game Changer for American Companies

The alternating strain and tedium of a German U-Boat mission on Christmas Eve 1941 is relentless and taxing. Shot with fanatical dedication to detail in an actual reproduction of the tiny hallways of a World War II submarine, it may be a stretch to call it a Christmas movie, but it is one of the very greatest war movies, and one of the best movies in general, of the previous fifty years.I was tempted to leave it off and instead include Lethal Weapon (a superior movie), simply to see how many people would cancel their subscriptions in protest. But in the end, I couldn't pass up a film starring the late Alan Rickman (whose best Christmas-related quip was given in another film) and Reginald VelJohnson. In an effort to alleviate Ontario's housing affordability crisis, the Ford administration recently approved legislation aimed at encouraging homebuilding across the province. The government is also considering allowing construction on some Greenbelt properties around the GTAEveryone believes that there is a problem, regardless of how they feel about the government's recent actions. Ontario's housing shortfall is so clear that it is simply awful. Ask anyone wanting to rent or purchase their first house. At its core, the problem is one of supply and demand: there aren't enough homes for all the potential purchasers and renters. When demand exceeds supply, prices riseIf you like figures, consider that in the 1970sone home (on average) was created for every 1.2 new Ontarians, as opposed to 2.4 new Ontarians in the last decade. In other words, the ratio of new homes to new Ontarians is half what it was in the 1970s. Similarly, GTA rental vacancy rates reached about 3% in the 2000s before falling to less than 1.5 percent in the 2010s. Regardless of how you slice it, there aren't enough dwellings to accommodate present and future Ontarians. This is bad news for tenants, buyers, and anyone trying to establish roots in Ontario. It is also terrible news for the economy, social cohesiveness, and Ontario's reputation as an upwardly mobile society.

Which brings us back to the Ford administration's 

most recent housing legislation, the More Homes Built Faster Act, which promises to significantly lower the amount of regulatory hurdles that homebuilders encounter while also limiting local governments' ability to oppose housing development.The sweeping legislation allows up to three housing units "as-of-right" (that is, without rezoning) on single-family parcels across the province, exempts non-profit housing from development charges, refocuses the role of the Ontario Land Tribunal, limits conservation authorities' power, and exempts projects under ten units from site plan approval (a critical step in the development approval process). Time will tell if these modifications are sufficient; some contend that they do not go far enough. Regardless, the legislation signals a significant shift in the way Ontario approves housing.Unsurprisingly, some municipal governments and city planners have reacted negatively to these changes. By removing important steps from the approvals process or exempting particular properties from development fees, the province has reduced city hall's ability to manage expansion and generate cash from it.The Ford government's other recent housing decision, to remove certain lands from the Greenbelt while expanding it elsewhere, has enraged conservationists, many of whom had previously opposed any diminution in conservation authority control over house approvals.Of course, some of these concerns may be justified, particularly those about openness; rigorous evaluation of any government action is required. However, Ontario's housing issue necessitates a proper solution. If naysayers believe the More Homes Built Faster Act is detrimental to local planning systems, they must equally acknowledge the harm caused by housing scarcity. If this legislation is insufficient or incorrect, what options do they propose to fill the supply-demand gap?

So far, mostly radio quiet.

Thousands of fresh stories. There are hundreds of podcasts available for your listening enjoyment. Customizable email newsletter. Donate $5, $10, or $15 to help make The Hub a realityThe government's new legislation, while imperfect, is a positive step toward additional homedevelopment, which is critical to increased affordability. However, if its changes fall short and no viable alternative is presented, Ontario will fail to meet its housing targets, which are supported by all parties. Rhetoric is simple. Without serious policy promises, we will not see materially different results.The outcome will be determined by time, but the main thing is to make progress. Ontario hasalready moved beyond the point of discussing whether or not to modify the way municipalities prepare for and approve housing. Changes are overdue, and the Ford administration has made some serious ideas. Any opponents to these plans must provide helpful alternatives. In other words, they should explain how Ontario might bridge the rising gap between the number of homes needed and those available. Because unless this happens, too many people in the province will continue to be unable to afford homes.

This autumn, two bottles of wine passed 

across my table, prompting me to reflect on critical mass and wine. One cost $26.95 and was made just over 50 miles away from my house in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The other cost $18.95 and was created just south of Florence in the Chianti Classico hills. Each demonstrates how size can have a positive impact.The 2020 Inniskillin Montague Vineyard Chardonnay is a superb and sophisticated white wine, with racy acidity balanced by core fruit and hints of wood spice. It comes from a single vineyard near Four Mile Creek, which is a source of pride for a winery.The 2018 Clemente VII Chianti Classico is a well-crafted, food-friendly red wine with dark cherry and Mediterranean scrub aromas. It's produced by the largest cooperative winery in the famed DOCG region. According to an American importer, Castelli del Grevepesa produces 15% of all Chianti Classico wine, and this brand, named after a 16th-century Medici Pope, is one of its most popularOne of my favorite topics to write about over the years has been how winemaking and winedrinkers' preferences are influenced by fashion and trends. If you stick around long enough, some of them will leave and return. (Is it just me, or does oak seep back into more and more whites?) A tiny, boutique, or craft winery, on the other hand, is an ever-popular selling feature.