Progressive Conservative candidate Matthew Rae quickly learned that housing affordability is the hot topic while out campaigning for MPP of Perth-Wellington.
The Mitchell resident purchased a fixer-upper about three years ago. With a fair amount of sweat equity, he believes the value of his home has at least doubled, thanks to a sizzling housing market.
Since then, however, price tags have priced out many Canadians, and that is an issue for many.
“The (current home prices) don’t make sense to me personally,” he told StratfordToday “It’s a big concern and one that I hear at the door. But it’s also across the country.”
All housing stock is impacted, he noted, from social housing, to the ‘missing middles’ – townhomes and semi-detached homes, at one time more affordable and a way into the market.
Rae, who sits on the Perth County Committee for Affordable Housing, won the PC nomination in March over St. Marys resident Don Van Galen. Rae grew up on a farm in Harriston in Wellington County. To run, he took a leave of absence from his job as director of university relations at Shad Canada.
He said Progressive Conservatives have addressed housing through existing initiatives.
The Housing Supply Action Plan promised to cut red tape to make it easier to build housing, help make it affordable and help taxpayers keep more of their money.
Rae noted that the plan led to 81,000 new housing starts in 2020. The following year saw an increase to 100,000 housing starts and 31,000 new rental starts, the most for rentals in three decades.
The provincial government also increased the tax on non-resident homebuyers to 20 per cent, from 15 per cent.
The Progressive Conservatives recently tabled budget is a nearly $200 billion fiscal plan. Big ticket items include infrastructure such as highways, hospitals and public transit. The budget seeks to address senior care, schools and tax relief for low-income workers.
Of course, budget promises are contingent upon the PCs returning to government.
Rae said ‘pocketbook issues’ have dominated discussion on the doorstep.
A member of the Progressive Conservative party for the past 10 years, Rae volunteered on different occasions for Perth-Wellington MP John Nater and Randy Pettapiece, who is retiring as MPP of Perth-Wellington.
Those experiences highlighted for Rae that public service is about hard work and serving the community.
“It’s not what you see on television or at press conferences.”
Rae said he identifies with the PC party because they emphasize personal responsibility and place an emphasis on both good governance and financial management.
Pettapiece is his campaign chairman – an advisory role separate from his campaign manager. Rae said he is fortunate to have an experienced MPP to help him in his quest to win the riding.
“He has deep connections in the community…big shoes to fill.”
Rae noted Pettapiece was the first area MPP since Liberal Hugh Edighoffer to serve three consecutive terms. Edighoffer, born in Stratford and raised in Mitchell, served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1990 - all of that time in opposition.
Pettapiece said Rae stands a good chance to get elected. "He has more experience than I ever had before I ran. He has worked federally, provincially…his involvement and interest in politics goes way back. If elected, he will do well. He will work hard.”
That said, Rae doesn't feel any pressure to keep the riding blue.
Asked if Pettapiece has passed on any advice, Rae said they have had conversations.
“Randy is very focused on the community and helping people and making sure our communities get the investments they need. That has been his sole focus in his 10 years as MPP for Perth-Wellington.”
“I’m focused on getting out and meeting as many voters as I can. I don’t look at polls and won’t take anything for granted. It will take a lot of work for whoever is successful in this riding on June 2.”
