How affordable it is to buy or rent a place to live is a significant concern among Manitobans, as more than one-half indicate that affordability is their primary concern related to housing. Younger adults and those living in Winnipeg are much more likely to worry about how affordable it is to find a place to live. Slightly fewer than one in five Manitobans express concern about a lack of available places to live, while nearly one in ten are concerned about how rent increases and property taxes make housing less affordable.

graph showing Manitobans' concerns about housing

While the vast majority of Manitobans are at least somewhat concerned about how housing affordability affects others in their community, more than one-half are concerned about how housing costs affect them personally. This includes more than seven in ten Manitobans between the ages of 18 and 34 who are very or somewhat concerned about how housing affordability affects them personally, with renters and those with lower household incomes also much more likely to worry about housing costs on a personal level than older and more affluent Manitobans.

graph showing level of concern about whether housing is affordable

A slight majority support rezoning changes

Six in ten Winnipeg adults are in favour of recent changes to Winnipeg’s zoning bylaws that will allow up to four housing units to be built on any piece of residential land anywhere in the city. More than three in ten are opposed, with nearly one in ten unsure or not expressing an opinion. Younger adults and other demographic groups most likely to be concerned about housing affordability are much more likely to be in favour of these zoning changes, with support also strongest among those living in inner-city neighbourhoods.

graph showing support for allowing fourplexes to be built as of right in Winnipeg

While majorities of those living in suburban areas of Winnipeg are in favour of these zoning changes, support is less intense and opposition is much stronger. Those who are opposed to allowing fourplexes to be built easily in residential neighbourhoods are most likely to raise concerns about how these new homes will not fit with the existing character of their neighbourhood, or to object to having more people and too many vehicles in the area. About one in ten each argue that allowing these changes will lead to increases in crime and will depress property values. 

About the Probe Research Omnibus

For more than two decades, Probe Research has undertaken quarterly omnibus surveys of random and representative samples of Manitoba adults. These scientific telephone surveys have provided strategic and proprietary insights to hundreds of public, private and not-for-profit clients on a range of social, cultural and public policy topics. The Probe Research Omnibus Survey is the province’s largest and most trusted general population survey.

Disclosure Statement

Probe Research is a member of the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) and confirms that this research fully complies with all CRIC Standards including the CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements. Learn more at: https://www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/por/

Methodology

Probe Research surveyed a random and representative sampling of 1,000 adults residing in Manitoba between March 5 and 18, 2024.

With a sample of 1,000, one can say with 95 per cent certainty that the results are within ± 3.1 percentage points of what they would have been if the entire adult population of Manitoba had been surveyed. The margin of error is higher within each of the survey’s population sub-groups.​

The sample consists of 493 Manitobans randomly recruited via live-agent operator, 288 randomly recruited via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and 219 members of Probe Research’s online panel. All respondents completed the survey on an online platform. 

Modified random digit dialing, including both landline and wireless numbers, ensured all Manitoba adults had an equal opportunity to participate in this Probe Research survey. 

Minor statistical weighting has been applied to this sample so that age, gender and regional characteristics properly reflect the province’s population. All data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical analysis software.