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Canines, Conductors, and Homeowners

Letters to the editor: November 2026

In “The Ownership Trap” (July/August), David Moscrop makes the fair argument that housing costs in Canada have risen far too fast, putting homeownership out of reach for many, if not most. But Moscrop confuses market price with value when he concludes that homeowners are benefiting from this rise. The worth of my house may have doubled, or even trebled, in market price since I bought it a quarter century ago, but its value is what it always was: my home, where I live. Like most homeowners, I am utterly indifferent to the market price and would be happy if it didn’t go up a penny (or at least no more than general inflation) as long as the price of other housing remained more or less consistent. After all, I can’t touch that theoretical wealth unless I sell my house, in which case I need to buy or rent somewhere else to live, which will also be more expensive. Single-property homeowners are not hoarding wealth, and nobody benefits from excessive housing prices apart from the real estate industry.

Douglas Scott Proudfoot Ottawa, ON

In her piece “Dog Fight” (July/August), Sarah Treleaven provides a nuanced analysis of the sometimes murky relationship between those who rescue animals and those charged with regulating animal protection, both of whom are well intentioned. The article mentions the........

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