By the time this is published, we will know the results of the 2025 federal election and we will know who will be responsible for solving the housing crisis in Canada.
On March 31st, the CBC reported that Prime Minister Carney promised to “double the number of homes built annually in Canada to nearly 500,000”. The article went on to say that to “… get that done, a Carney-led Liberal government says it would create an entity called Build Canada Homes (BCH) that would act as a developer overseeing the construction of affordable housing in Canada.
Describing BCH as a “lean, mission-driven organization,” Carney said it will provide tens of billions in financing for new affordable housing projects across the country.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-double-pace-home-building-1.7497947
Conservative leader Poilievre has taken a different approach according to Deeded News https://www.deeded.ca/blog/trudeaus-resignation-poilievre-housing-plan:
“Pierre Poilievre’s housing plan rests on five key pillars:
- Building More Homes: Aiming to increase the housing supply through targets and financial incentives.
- Incentives and Penalties: Tackling municipal roadblocks and prioritizing high-density developments.
- Tax and Funding Changes: Cutting GST and repurposing federal assets to boost affordability.
- Streamlining Processes: Slashing bureaucratic delays and holding agencies accountable.
- Other Measures: Reforming federal programs and converting properties for affordable housing.”
To me, the Liberal approach is about control and handouts led by a government bureaucracy. The Conservative plan is more hands-off, removing red tape and supporting home buyers.
Charles Hooker had this to say about federal housing programs:
“The feds don’t understand that homes are built by private contractors and are under the jurisdiction of provinces and municipalities who set construction standards and zoning restrictions. Conditions vary among provinces with different climates; a single set of conditions won’t suit anyone.
Trudeau tried to bribe Alberta towns into adopting his silly “green energy” and DEI policies in return for home-building money, bypassing the provincial government. Premier Smith put a stop to that for good, multiple reasons, but PCP organizers are still at it (with federal government money).
Trudeau funded (as Carney will) the WEF organ called “Partners for Climate Protection (PCP)” and those people are busily adding “green energy” expenses to the municipalities’ budgets. See ICLEI and KICLEI.”
Mr. Hooker may have a point. Housing starts across Canada, as measured by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, does not paint a rosy picture. SAAR is seasonally adjusted annual rate. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/media-newsroom/news-releases/2025/housing-starts-march-2025
“The total monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada decreased 3.3% in March (214,155 units) compared to February (221,405 units).
Actual housing starts were down 12.5% year-over-year in centres with a population of 10,000 or greater, with 14,924 units recorded in March, compared to 17,052 in March 2024.”