Not worth the fight?

“The Canada that you know is gone dude, nobody under 30 is taking up arms to defend this melting pot.”

The comment was posted here yesterday – obviously from a person under 30, probably male (aggressive tone) and likely white (disparages the ‘melting pot’). It came at the end of a blog post which largely analyzed how the impact Trump’s new American imperialism was felt on financial markets yesterday (they had a cow).

As detailed here, stocks retreated, bonds fell and precious metals rose as investors took risk off the table. They feared the US president might impose fat new tariffs on key trading partners or send a Delta force to seize Greenland and shatter NATO. Markets hate surprises. Trump is a walking timebomb.

Of course Canada is in the crosshairs, too. Carney’s big speech in Davos warned against American political and economic brutality (without saying ‘America’ or ‘Trump’) and earned him massive respect. Our PM stated the old system we’ve lived by for 80 years has ruptured. Unsaid was, “we can never again trust the United States. Nor can you.”

This brings us to the whiny Gen Z comment above. It’s a not-so-tacit endorsement of the Trumpian view of the world, in which Canada has become a middling-power country with soft-sided social values, too many brown people and houses which cost a million dollars.

In fact, everything comes down to economics. It always does. If the guy writing those words (Reginald) had a nice bungalow in Calgary or Uxbridge or Kelowna, you’d never hear from him again. To many of the young, sadly, patriotism is transactional. If you give me stuff, I’ll be loyal. Trump learned that long ago.

Well, what can the kiddos expect in 2026?

In some places in Canada, the real estate market is just peachy, according to the stats. People are buying. Sellers are selling without anguish. So prices have ticked higher and sales levels stayed reasonable in Newfoundland, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Can you buy a decent house for less than half a million in Canada? Maybe way less? There are lots of places to go, those being three of them (to which you can add most of NS, pretty much all of NB and northern Ontario). Given the prevalence of remote work and the ubiquity of a robust Internet connection, living cheap in Canada has probably never been a better deal.

For those young ones still clingy with their parents or wanting the Big City vibe, it’s likely 2026 will bring a little more affordability, but not much. Yes, immigration levels are lower and interest rates are not going up – maybe for a whole year. But demand has been increasing a little and price reductions have been moderating.

Here’s the view from Calgary, according to the realtors’ economist: “Lower migration levels, stable employment and interest rates are expected to prevent any substantial change in demand in 2026.”

The forecast is for condo prices to fall further while detached homes will hold their ground. All Alberta markets could see positive buyer sentiment (reflected in pricing) because of the deal just signed with Ottawa, while uncertainty over the to-be-renegotiated trade deal with the US remains.

But this fact stays: real estate in Alberta is cheap, compared to the GTA or the LM. Edmonton is a steal. Just like Saskatoon, but without pelicans.

As for Torontopolis, showing and sales have accelerated in the past couple of weeks. Some people in the business see a 15% jump in the number of deals coming. Prices are expected to remain flat. No boom, No bust. No FOMO. No collapse.

Expected is more of a balance in terms of supply and demand with gradually shrinking inventory after the rutting season rush (that starts in less than four weeks). As in AB, condos will struggle. Detached homes in demand areas will sell fast. Sentiment in the Vancouver market is similar. 2026 will not be 2025. But either will it be 2022. It’s time for us all to shed extremist thoughts.

In this world, what should a jaded twenty-something do who’s ready to sell out this favoured nation over personal finances?

Move, Reggue, and find out.

About the picture: “Hey Garth. Your post yesterday reminded me of old photos of Junior in his natural habitat,” writes Josiah in Mississauga. “The frozen Credit river with regional rail and Starbucks nearby.”

To be in touch or send a picture of your beast, email to ‘garth@garth.ca’.

Source: https://www.greaterfool.ca/2026/01/21/not-worth-the-fight/