The discovery of the nest during demolition stalled progress on much-needed housing thanks to Canada's federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, making it illegal to harm them, or active nests, with fines from $5,000 to $300,000.

If you were diagnosed with cancer, would you call a plumber? Of course not. You’d want a doctor—someone who actually treats patients. And if you wanted a new house built, you wouldn’t ask your family physician. You’d call a builder, an architect, or a tradesperson who knows how to pour a foundation and raise a roof. So why do governments keep making this exact mistake when it comes to housing policy?