In cities experiencing rapid growth, like Calgary and Saskatoon, it is often claimed that the "overheated" real estate market puts housing out of reach of ordinary Canadians. Not surprisingly, governments often debate how best to deal with this issue. Who bears the heaviest cost when rents are kept artificially low by each of the following means?
a. Legislated rent controls
b. A subsidy to tenants equal to some fraction of their rent
c. The provision of public housing which is made available at below-market rents