most of the surplus land is marginally habitable, and costs increase dramatically when you get rural.

plus "land" doesn't mean anything if you're not near the people and things you want do to, places to work, etc.

do you want to do a 1.5 hour commute and hustle to live around Toronto, or do you want to live in Outer Nowhere, Manitoba, population 400, and where it regularly gets to -40C?