The US is a bit of a different animal (although it's comparable to Canada, which is what the original article discusses). To my understanding, there are no equi

The US is a bit of a different animal (although it's comparable to Canada, which is what the original article discusses). To my understanding, there are no equivalent "town halls" that can block development - although it does seem to vary by province and municipality. Also, immigrants to Canada usually move to one of its three main metro areas - Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, which, coincidentally, have also seen the highest amount of housing increases. Other places, like Calgary or Winnipeg, have not had housing explode in the same way (although prices have risen in smaller amounts there as well). Keep in mind, the original article is focusing on Canadian housing, which, while complex, may be even simpler than the American model.