Douglas Todd: Many Canadian politicians belong to the landlord class. We should question their motivations

Having so many Canadian politicians invested in real estate is a problem.

In the midst of an affordability crisis that has struck Canada harder than almost any other country, the public should be worried that an unusually high proportion of its politicians are landlords.

While it isn’t inherently wrong to invest in real estate, it’s a worry that one-of-three Ottawa cabinet ministers — the people making absolutely crucial decisions impacting the cost of owning and renting — bring in significant personal wealth from housing.

This column will look at whether MPs are in conflict of interest when they vote on laws affecting house and rent prices. It also digs into whether the House of Commons lacks cabinet ministers and MPs who represent the millions of Canadians struggling to enter the housing market or to just find a modest place to rent.