Unlocking the Door to Homeownership
Discussing Housing Affordability in Canada
Canada’s housing affordability challenges cannot be solved by focusing on just one part of the system. Canada’s last National Housing Strategy focused almost exclusively on non-market social and subsidized housing—as the time comes to update the strategy, it is critical that the full continuum be addressed, with permanent policy measures to do so.
The federal government should support homeownership affordability in the 2026 Spring Economic Update by building on recent announcements to cut taxes on new housing.
The data from Canada’s latest Housing Market Index (HMI), published quarterly by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), fell yet again this quarter to new record lows for housing purchase/start prospects of all housing forms for ownership. CHBA’s single-family HMI reached a low of 23.3 out of 100, while the multi-family HMI was 16.8. The…
Earlier this week, the federal government announced Build Canada Homes (BCH), a new federal entity with goal to create more affordable (social), non-market housing. BCH will aim to develop 4,000 homes on federal lands, with the potential to deliver up to 45,000 units across its portfolio using innovative financing and factory-built construction. CHBA CEO, Kevin…
As of the day after the election, the Liberal Party of Canada, under the leadership of Mark Carney, has won a minority government in the federal election. They are currently leading or elected in 168 seats. The Conservatives, like before, form the Official Opposition, with 144 seats (leading or elected) but in the surprise upset…
The NDP has proposed the Canadian Homes Transfer, an $8 million fund over four years to encourage cities to build more homes, faster. The NDP says this will help build more than 3 million homes by 2030. The party is also proposing another $8 million for the Communities First Fund which will support provinces in…
The Conservative Party’s housing platform vows to build 2.3 million homes over the next five years by removing taxes on homebuyers and builders. CHBA strongly supports removing the GST on all new homes under $1.3 million which will go a long way towards unlocking the door to homeownership and has been a key recommendation from…
DCs are upfront fees charged by municipalities and that are initially paid for by developers for each new unit they build, but ultimately get paid for by the buyers of new homes. They are supposed to be charged to cover the proportionate infrastructure costs such as new roads and water and sewer connections, but have grown to cover much more than their fair share.
Last updated: April 1, 2025 The Liberal Party's Housing Plan, as found here (March 31, 2025). The Liberal Party’s “Building Canada Strong” housing plan (the Plan), announced on the election campaign trail, vows to double the pace of construction by getting the government back in the business of home building, cutting red tape to make…
Government taxes and fees are a major contributor to high house prices, making up as much as 31 percent of the sale price of a home in some regions. And while most of these taxes come at the municipal level, GST (and in some provinces, HST) is also charged. One of the ways the Federal…