COLUMN: Council to debate if sharing is the solution to housing crisis - Orillia News

Mark Bisset, former executive director of the Couchiching Conservancy and lifelong Orillia resident, reflects on the challenging housing decisions facing Orillia City Council.

Bisset examines the cultural shift from citizens to consumers and how this transformation affects local politics, particularly around affordable housing initiatives. He argues that while council faces potential political risks in addressing housing affordability, the fundamental question remains whether the community is willing to share resources to help neighbors in need. The author emphasizes that sharing has historically been humanity's cornerstone for building stable, prosperous communities.

• Housing affordability requires difficult political decisions that risk voter backlash
• Citizens focus on collective good while consumers demand individual benefits
• Sharing wealth with neighbors remains the central question in housing policy debates
• Equitable communities throughout history have proven safer, healthier, and more prosperous