Janice Myers, CREA CEO, Attends Launch of Build Canada Homes (BCH)
Her three biggest takeaways.
With housing affordability top of mind for Canadians, I was pleased to attend the launch of Build Canada Homes (BCH), as Prime Minister Mark Carney and Housing Minister Gregor Robertson unveiled their plans and priorities for the new agency.
There is a lot to unpack in this announcement, and more to learn about BCH in the days and months ahead. But I will highlight three of my takeaways:
- There is recognition that housing is key social and economic infrastructure for a prosperous Canada. This is more than a signal, it is an acknowledgement that fixing the housing crisis is a generational imperative.
- The focus on community, deeply affordable, as well as transitional and supportive housing, makes sense at a time of economic uncertainty. Canadians are hurting. The federal government stepping back into this space, in partnership with provinces, municipalities, and Indigenous organizations is welcome.
- For several years CREA has been advocating for government to incentivize and help scale-up innovative homebuilding methods, such as modular and other off-site technologies. The Prime Minister and Minister Robertson made it clear that they are all-in on supporting a new homebuilding industry that will get more homes online more quickly. The benefits of this investment will be meaningful for both market and non-market housing outcomes.
This announcement is a significant step to securing a healthy housing system.
We will continue to advocate that the federal government work to keep the pathway to affordable homeownership a realistic one for Canadians. I told Minister Robertson that CREA and REALTORS® are ready to help.
Let’s keep working together!
