#Donthave1Million protesters rally against high cost of housing

More than 100 peoplerallied at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday afternoon to protest the high cost of housing in Vancouver.

Many carried signs outliningthe increase in housing pricesover the last few decades.

The rally was organized by Vancouverites for Affordable Housing a group that describes itself as"your everyday residents and citizens who believe that the housing affordability crisis is damaging the long-term health of our beloved city."

Vancouver MayorGregorRobertson did not attend the rally, but released a statement to the media.

Robertson said the city is doing what it can to shift the housing market towards affordability, but more action is required by provincial and federal governments.

"One of the biggest ways we could boost affordability in Vancouver and cities across the country is for the federal government to re-engage in housing, he said.

"Steady, long-term cutbacks from the federal government are compounding our affordability challenges. There is huge demand from people on the affordable end of the market for newco-opsand family housing."

The rally featuredspeeches byPaul Kershaw, founder of Generation Squeeze andEveline Xia the woman who started an online conversation about the subject with the#DontHave1Million Twitter campaign.

On Friday,Vancouver real-estate marketerBobRennierecommended a tax onspeculationin a speech to the Urban Development Institute

Robertson sayshe is also in favour of a speculation tax, and suggested it as an option toB.C. Premier Christy Clark last week.