Housing in Canada
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is one of Canada’s largest single-industry associations. Our membership includes more than 160,000 real estate brokers, agents and salespeople working through 65 real estate boards and associations across Canada.
Canadian Housing Market Landscape
Canada is in a national housing crisis that has been decades in the making. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) states 5.8 million more homes need to be built by 2030 to bring housing affordability into balance. At the current rate of construction, Canada will be short 3.5 million homes. While different studies and research might show varying figures, the undeniable truth is that our countries housing deficit is in the millions.
As our population continues to grow, demand for housing continues to far outpace the rate of new construction and available inventory, resulting in reduced housing supply across the country. This has led to a sustained and historic rise in housing costs and severe affordability challenges, affecting the well-being and quality of life for millions of Canadians.
For more than 39 years, REALTORS® have advocated for policies that encourage access to housing for all Canadians, from emergency shelter to community housing, to rental accommodation and homeownership. Above all, REALTORS® advocate for innovative solutions and policies to increase housing supply across the housing continuum, address current housing challenges, and allow all Canadians to have access to safe, stable and affordable housing options.
CREA’s recommendations reflect REALTOR® priorities which, once combined with thoughtful and integrated planning, have great potential to address the national housing crisis.
REALTOR® Recommendations
REALTOR® Recommendation No. 1:
Stimulate supply across the housing continuum by embracing innovation through offsite construction technologies.
REALTOR® Recommendation No. 2:
Establish a permanent mechanism to collaborate and coordinate housing policy and development, such as a national housing secretariat.
REALTOR® Recommendation No. 3:
HST/GST relief for non-profit affordable ownership housing.
Government Consultation Submissions
Budget Consultation 2024 – Measures to build more homes
CREA Capital Gain Inclusion Rate Consultation Budget 2024
Consultation on Strengthening Canada's Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Regime
Consultation on the guideline B-20: Residential Mortgage Underwriting
CREA Submission:
National Housing Council Financialization of Purpose Built Rental
CREA Submission:
Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2023 Budget
CREA Submission:
Request for amendments to the regulations of the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act to minimize unintended consequences and target housing speculation
CREA Submission:
Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act
CREA Submission:
Budget 2022 Tax Measures and Amendments Consultation on The Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA), The First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC), The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, and The Residential Property Flipping Rule.
CREA Submission:
The Canada Green Buildings Strategy Consultation
Additional Resources
The Hill Times
Housing-enabling infrastructure: a key piece to solving the housing crisis puzzle
The Conference Board of Canada
Work in Progress: How Immigration Can Address Labour Shortages in Residential Construction
Ban Blind Bidding Report from SPI
Energy Labelling Report from SPI
White Paper on Homeownership
Permanent National Housing Roundtable: Ideas for Consideration
Government Report, Altus Group
Economic Report, Altus Group
Community Insights and Local Housing Data by Riding
- ALBERTA
- BRITISH COLUMBIA
- MANITOBA
- NEW BRUNSWICK
- NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
- NOVA SCOTIA
- PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
-
ONTARIO
Algoma - Manitoulin - Kapuskasing
Aurora - Oak Ridges - RichmondHill
Barrie - Springwater - Oro-Medonte
Glengarry - Prescott - Russell
Haliburton - Kawartha Lakes - Brock
Hamilton West - Ancaster - Dundas
Hastings - Lennox and Addington
Leeds - Grenville - Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
Northumberland - Peterborough South
Renfrew - Nipissing - Pembroke
-
QUEBEC
Abitibi - Baie-James - Nunavik - Eeyou
Argenteuil - La Petite - Nation
Avignon - La Mitis - Matane - Matapédia
Beauport - Côte-de-Beaupré-Île - d’Orléans - Charlevoix
Bellechasse - Les Etchemins - Lévis
Charlesbourg - Haute - Saint-Charles
Gaspésie - Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Montmagny - L’Islet - Kamouraska - Rivière-du-Loup
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce - Westmount
Pierre-Boucher - Les Patriotes - Verchères
Rimouski-Neigette - Témiscouata - Les Basques
- SASKATCHEWAN
- TERRITORIES
In your Community, is a Community with a Heart
The REALTOR® community is working together to make a positive impact in communities across Canada.