Articles from Building.ca

On September 14, 2025, Canada's Prime Minister launched the Build Canada Homes (BCH) initiative, aiming to build affordable housing to combat homelessness and provide low-income and middle-class housing. The plan has received positive reactions from entities like the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The Canadian Wood Council appreciates the focus on factory-built housing and Canadian materials, highlighting the importance of modular and prefabricated systems in construction. The BCH initiative, with a $13 billion budget, involves partnerships with various levels of government and private developers.

The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) and the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) have formed a partnership to promote steel-timber hybrid construction in Canada. This approach combines the durability of steel with the sustainable benefits of wood, aiming for better structural performance and cost efficiency. A Technical Steering Committee has been established to create technical guides, best practices, and encourage industry adoption. Upcoming resources and engagement opportunities will be announced in the near future.

The federal government is investing $4.5 million through the Affordable Housing Fund to build supportive housing for homeless veterans in Edmonton. The project, located in the Athlone neighborhood, will feature 40 bachelor units with amenities like a fitness room and community garden. Veterans' House Canada, a national charity, will oversee the project, which aims to provide stable homes and tailored support services for veterans. The initiative highlights collaboration between the government and non-profit sectors to address affordable housing needs.

Construction has started on Le Monterosso, a 20-unit affordable housing project in Charlesbourg, Québec. The project is funded by over $7.7 million in investments from the Canadian and Québec governments, the City of Québec, and the Office municipal d'habitation de Québec. The initiative aims to provide safe and affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, and seniors. Support from government initiatives like the Canada-Quebec Rapid Housing Initiative Agreement and Housing Accelerator Fund have been crucial for the project.

Ontario is increasing its funding towards housing-enabling infrastructure by an additional $1.6 billion, aiming to support municipalities in building more houses. The province's Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, with a current total of $3.9 billion, focuses on constructing roads, bridges, and water systems crucial for housing development. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has set a goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031, but current construction rates fall short of the target. While Canada's housing starts increased overall, there was a 28% decline in Ontario compared to previous years.

According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Canada needs to construct 3.2 million new homes over the next decade to address the current housing shortfall. The report projects that only 2.5 million homes will be built, highlighting a gap of 700,000 homes needed. Although immigration target reductions may slightly ease demand, new household formations remain high, maintaining pressure on the housing market. To close the housing gap, Canada would need to build about 290,000 homes annually, more than ever built before.

The Canadian construction sector is experiencing subdued activity due to uncertainty caused by U.S. trade tariffs, although the infrastructure segment is showing strong growth. The Q2 2025 RICS-CIQS Canada Construction Monitor indicates a slight improvement in the industry's sentiment compared to the previous quarter, with infrastructure driving the positive outlook, especially in social sub-sectors like water, waste, and transport. However, private residential and non-residential sectors are facing challenges, with the residential activity reaching its lowest point since 2019. Despite concerns about tariffs and rising costs, the outlook for construction employment and infrastructure development remains positive.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has decided to significantly increase countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports, raising them from 6.74% to 14.63%. This hike, combined with already existing anti-dumping duties, results in a total duty of 35.19% for Canadian lumber. British Columbia's forest minister and business leaders have criticized the move, warning of its impact on construction costs in the U.S. and potential harm to communities reliant on forestry industries. The Canadian government is preparing to fight the decision through legal channels while also exploring solutions to support the industry.

Ontario is funding a free building code course through George Brown College to address the shortage of building code officials, with the program available to newcomers with backgrounds in construction or related fields. The program, offered in partnership with the Ontario Building Officials Association, aims to mitigate skill gaps in this critical area, though opposition members argue more needs to be done to address other workforce shortages. Catherine Fife of the NDP emphasizes the wider need for labor force development across various sectors. The college hopes to equip graduates for careers as building inspectors and examiners.

The article discusses how Canada's adoption of prefabricated home construction could be enhanced by emulating strategies from the fast-food industry. Prefab homes offer significant cost, time, and environmental benefits, but current regulatory and financial systems are not conducive to their widespread adoption. Drawing parallels with chain restaurants like McDonald's and Wendy's, the piece suggests that standardization, transparency, and streamlined processes could boost prefab housing's acceptance. It also emphasizes the need for governmental support and policy updates to facilitate this transition.

The Canadian Wood Council welcomed a $1.2 billion federal investment announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, aimed at supporting Canada's forest sector and increasing the use of Canadian wood in construction. This includes $700 million in loan guarantees and $500 million for innovation, workforce development, and market diversification. The investment aligns with the council's initiatives to promote sustainable wood-based construction solutions to meet housing and climate goals. The council is committed to continuing collaboration with government, industry, and construction professionals to enhance the use of sustainable wood systems.

Oxford Properties Group has commenced construction on a $750 million rental development in Scarborough, Toronto, marking it as the area's first major purpose-built rental project in decades. The development, consisting of 1,285 units, includes affordable housing and aims to support the area's housing needs while promoting sustainability. The project, financed partly through a significant loan from CMHC, is part of Oxford's larger master plan for more than 10,000 residential units in the area. Completion is expected by summer 2029.