Dear Editor,
Last week, long-time Richmond resident John Massot died.
He was remarkable, hard working, an innovative entrepreneur, a model citizen.
He owned and operated Jones Nurseries and later Bota Gardens, fore-runner of Fantasy Gardens.
While I was in elected office, he often lobbied me over lunch with a glass of fine, French wine. Never for himself.
But he would plead to raise the minimum wage, to address affordable housing etc. He would say, “Nick, when it comes to housing, I am a socialist.”
His concern for social justice was sustained by his deep Catholic Christian faith. He immigrated from France in the 50-s.
John told me that just outside Paris, farmland as good as any in the Fraser Valley, sells for one-tenth our prices.
Why, because no one can make money on that farmland. It is treated as a public trust. It grieved John that we do not apply the same principle to address our housing affordability crises.
If John could address politicians, at all levels, today, he would have this message:
Current housing policies fail us. Throwing public money at the housing problem resolves nothing. Residential land and houses are for basic accommodation, not for making easy money. We accept government intervention in the rental market. The energy to heat and light our homes is regulated, as is water, the internet, radio, TV, telephone, butter, milk and cheese. Why not the house itself? Turning homes into investment commodities destroys families and healthy communities. Who can deny it? It happens before our eyes! The price we pay for permitting housing to be a commodity for investment purposes, is too high. All gains on real estate should be taxed, heavily, ninety percent or more.
The only appropriate benefit from investing in real estate is having a roof over your head.
All benefits beyond that are unnecessary and parasitical. Access to housing should be limited to those who need accommodation and denied to investors and speculators.
Until that is in place, all efforts to provide affordable housing remain futile. A radical policy, such as proposed, needs to be phased-in, but when implemented, it will yield truly affordable housing.
The Lower Mainland is a fitting place to start. And John Massot would applaud.
Nick Loenen
Former MLA
Richmond
