Provinces ‘hold the key' to unlocking homebuilding, new report argues
OTTAWA – While the federal government and cities across Canada are making strides on expanding the housing supply, the provinces still need to get serious about building quality homes, a new report released Thursday argues.
No province earned a grade higher than C+ in the report assembled by the Task Force for Housing and Climate, a non-governmental body that was struck in 2023 with backing from the philanthropic Clean Economy Fund.
The task force's 'report card' evaluated governments based on their policies for building homes quickly and sustainably.
It gave the federal government the highest grade in the country — a B — while Alberta ranked at the bottom of the pile with a D+. The rest of the provinces' scores were in the C range.
Mike Moffatt, the report's author and founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative at the University of Ottawa, suggested that the provinces have thus far avoided 'scrutiny' for their role in perpetuating the housing crisis, while Ottawa and the cities have taken the heat for red tape and high costs.
'Provinces really hold the key here. They have the most policy levers and, in many cases, they've actually done the least,' he said.
The task force is co-chaired by former Edmonton mayor Don Iveson and former deputy leader of the federal Conservatives Lisa Raitt. Prime Minister Mark Carney was one of the group's members before becoming federal Liberal leader.
'Currently, no government is doing enough to get these homes built,' said Raitt in a statement accompanying the report.
The task force compiled its report card based on its evaluations of government policies to encourage factory-built housing, fill in market gaps, boost density, map high-risk areas and update building codes.
The report found plenty of variability even within provinces, said He said both Saskatchewan and Ontario are doing well on building away from high-risk areas but are falling short on increasing density.
The report gave British Columbia, Quebec and Prince Edward Island a score of C+ — the highest score received by any province.
Moffat said B.C.'s grade suffered because while it encourages density 'on paper,' its slow permit approvals and high building costs frustrate development.
While Alberta is doing well on the pace of housing starts alone, he said, that's mostly due to leadership at the municipal level in Calgary and Edmonton — not provincial policy.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in the provincial legislature in November that the government was 'not standing in the way of the private sector to build more affordable housing.' She said increasing housing supply would 'automatically' bring down costs for Albertans.
Moffatt said Smith's stance is 'correct' — lowering barriers to development is critical to expanding the supply of affordable housing — but that's 'only part of the story.'
He said Alberta has to take 'responsibility' for the housing demand it induces through its successful marketing campaign to lure Ontarians to the province.
Moffatt said the province also has to make sure homes are built sustainably and not in the path of wildfires, and can't abdicate its responsibility for filling gaps in social housing.
'We need both. We need a strong, robust private sector to deliver housing, but we also need government to come in and fill in the gaps,' he said.
Monday Mornings
The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week.
Moffatt said the provinces are falling behind on mapping flood plains and need to take responsibility for provincial legislation that leads to higher development charges.
He noted that the report card was based only on implemented policies and did not capture the impact of proposed legislation such as Ontario's Bill 17, which is meant to speed up permits and approvals, simplify development charges and fast-track infrastructure projects.
The report said the federal government's housing accelerator fund, which encourages municipalities to simplify zoning rules to get more shovels in the ground, has made progress but needs enforcement tools to keep cities accountable after they strike funding deals with Ottawa.
Moffatt said he hopes to use the report card framework to track progress on housing goals in the future, and to work on separate research to evaluate municipalities' housing policies.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
As separatist talk simmers in Alberta and Quebec, Canadians say breaking up will be hard to do: poll
Against a backdrop of fresh talk of Alberta separation and the constant spectre of Quebec's sovereignty movement, a new national opinion poll found that most Canadians say breaking up will be hard to do. A large majority of respondents nationally said any secession by one province would require negotiation with all provinces and must be supported by a clear majority of voters in the province, and most said separation cannot be a unilateral decision, and it should require approval by the federal House of Commons. A national opinion survey , conducted by Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies and provided to Postmedia, was designed to probe Canadians attitudes about the process for separation, rather than their views on separation itself, and what should follow a successful provincial leave referendum. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The bottom line is that Canadians across the country envision the process as much more complex than a simple majority vote on a referendum question,' said Jack Jedwab, president of the Montreal-based Association for Canadian Studies. Public discussion about Alberta separating from Canada drew more mainstream attention in May, after the federal election returned the Liberal Party to government and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tabled provincial legislation to make it easier for Albertans to trigger a referendum on the province leaving the rest of Canada. Smith said she would hold such a referendum if a citizen petition called for it. Separatists in Quebec hope the renewed discourse on separation will boost their long-standing desire for independent statehood, which twice went to provincial referendum which failed to support sovereignty, in 1980 and 1995. The Parti Québécois plans another provincial sovereignty referendum in the years ahead. That creates plenty of secessionist talk and debate, but it has been 30 years since Canada has seen an actual separation referendum. 'Many Canadians of voting age and, of course, most immigrants didn't experience the last referendum 30 years ago, but there is a growing consensus that the rest of the country would want a say in the process and secession would not be simple,' said Jedwab. The poll asked 1,537 people across Canada a series of questions on the mechanism of a possible separation. A majority of Canadians said any referendum question regarding provincial separation from Canada must be unambiguous, with 59 per cent of respondents agreeing with that, with only 11 per cent disagreeing, and 30 per cent saying they don't know or declined to answer. Respondents in Quebec and Alberta showed the strongest support for an unambiguous question, at 71 and 62 per cent, respectively. A clear majority of Canadians, 66 per cent, said there must be a clear majority of voters supporting separation in a separatist referendum for it to be considered — with Quebecers the softest on the issue. The poll showed that 76 per cent in Atlantic Canada, 75 per cent in B.C., 72 per cent in Alberta, 66 per cent in Ontario, and 62 per cent in Manitoba-Saskatchewan agreed that there must be a clear majority of voter support for separation. In Quebec it was 55 per cent, still a majority, with 26 per cent saying it was not necessary, by far the highest in the country. A majority of respondents in every region agreed that a province separating from Canada would require negotiations with all provinces — even respondents in Quebec, although they were the softest on the issue. Nationally, 62 per cent of respondents agreed that negotiation was necessary for provincial separation, with 19 per cent saying it wasn't needed and another 19 per cent saying they didn't know or declined to answer. The age of respondents impacted how strongly that feeling was, with the youngest cohort of 18 to 34 year olds showing a low of 56 per cent agreement, the middle cohort of 35 to 54 year olds rising to 61 per cent agreement, and the oldest cohort, those 55 years old and above, being the strongest in agreement at 67 per cent. The regional breakdown on the need for negotiations was lowest in the two provinces most active with separatist ambition — Alberta at 52 per cent and Quebec at 57. The highest support for the need for negotiation was in Atlantic Canada (67 per cent), followed by Ontario (66), B.C. (65), and Manitoba-Saskatchewan (61). Most Canadians said that even after a favourable provincial vote for separation, a province cannot unilaterally leave Canada, the poll found, although there is a lot of uncertainty about the issue. Canadians will want agreement on the question Nationally, 42 per cent said a province cannot make its own decision to separate from Canada while 22 per cent said such a decision by a province was enough. A large number, 36 per cent, said they didn't know or didn't answer the question. Only respondents in B.C. delivered a majority response dismissing unilateral departure — barely — at 51 per cent. Other regions followed: Ontario (46 per cent), Atlantic Canada (44), Alberta (43), Manitoba-Saskatchewan (42), and Quebec (31). Quebec was the only region with more people embracing unilateral separation than dismissing the idea: 32 per cent said it was OK, while 37 per cent said they weren't sure or didn't answer. While a majority of those in British Columbia, Atlantic Canada, and Ontario said a referendum question on separation should require the approval of the federal House of Commons, most Quebecers and Albertans disagreed. In Alberta, 43 per cent said a referendum question should not require a federal parliamentary vote, while 35 per cent agreed it should. That's even stronger than in Quebec, where 36 per cent said it should not require a federal approval, with 34 per cent saying it should. Those in B.C. showed the strongest support for federal input, at 60 per cent, followed by Atlantic Canada at 58 per cent, and Ontario at 55 per cent. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, pooled together in the poll, 43 per cent agreed there should be parliamentary approval, with 21 per cent saying it shouldn't be required and 36 per cent saying they didn't know or declined to answer. 'Canadians will want agreement on the question and will seemingly not be inclined to allow an outcome that involves a breakup to be established as set out solely by a province that wishes to separate,' said Jedwab. 'Without previous discussion around the process and the desired outcome, the risk is that results will not secure required recognition.' The public opinion survey was conducted online with 1,537 respondents in Canada from May 16 to 18. As a non-probability sample in a panel survey, traditional margins of error do not apply. • Email: ahumphreys@ | Twitter: AD_Humphreys Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Globe and Mail
6 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Canada can't solve its housing crisis without the provinces
Mike Moffatt is the founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative. Lisa Raitt is the co-chair of the Task Force for Housing and Climate and a former minister of transport, labour and natural resources. Canada is facing a housing crisis of historic proportions. To restore affordability, the country needs to build 5.8 million new homes by 2030. That means doubling the current rate of housing starts – an ambitious goal set by Prime Minister Mark Carney during the federal election campaign. It's a promise that will define his leadership, and one he'll be under intense pressure to deliver on. But no single order of government can solve Canada's housing crisis alone. While the federal government sets the tone and provides funding tools, the provinces hold many of the most important policy levers. If they don't act boldly, they risk becoming the bottleneck in Canada's efforts to boost supply, improve affordability and build housing that aligns with climate goals and can withstand extreme weather. The federal government has taken meaningful steps, including the promise to launch a Build Canada Homes entity and reinstate a 1970s-era tax incentive to spur rental apartment construction. It has also removed GST from new rental builds and made federal land available for housing. These are important changes – but their impact will be limited unless provinces get moving. In some provinces, we've seen positive momentum toward building density: British Columbia's reform allowing multiple units per lot and Ontario's recent relaxation of parking minimums are helpful steps. Inside the crisis facing Canada's dysfunctional housing market Tony Keller: Build, baby, build: Canada used to know how to do that Although both provinces have introduced reforms, these measures have been neutralized by skyrocketing development charges and sluggish approval timelines. As a result, housing starts in both provinces dropped more than 30 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year. Municipalities, for their part, are largely 'creatures of the province,' and the decisions they make must be compliant with provincial regulations, such as Ontario's Development Charges Act. Some have begun to implement long-overdue zoning reforms. Some have acted independently, while others were encouraged to do so through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. These initiatives show promise – but are frequently undermined by provincial inaction or contradictory policies. Fortunately, governments don't have to start from scratch. In 2024, the Task Force for Housing and Climate – composed of 15 housing and policy experts, including former Edmonton mayor Don Iveson and Mr. Carney (he's no longer a member) – published a comprehensive roadmap: Blueprint for More and Better Housing. It outlines more than 140 actionable recommendations across all levels of government to boost supply, deliver affordability, and build homes resilient to climate impacts. This year, the Task Force followed up with a report card grading federal and provincial governments on their performance. The federal government earned a B, praised for its recent initiatives but urged to improve transparency in programs like the Housing Accelerator and to launch a national hazard mapping initiative to prevent building in flood- and fire-prone areas. For the provinces, it's a different story. No province scored higher than a C+, with high fees, slow approvals and inconsistent reforms holding housing back. Among the provinces, Prince Edward Island earned among the highest marks for reforms that have boosted housing supply. However, the province still needs to do more to ensure new homes meet energy and climate-resilience standards. British Columbia introduced some of the country's boldest reforms, but its overall impact is undercut by rising municipal fees and glacial approval processes. Ontario, despite Premier Doug Ford's public opposition to fourplexes, has quietly legalized more density than most provinces and promised to launch a housing innovation fund. But volatile policymaking, persistent delays in the Greater Toronto Area, and the highest development charges in North America have led to low housing starts and, accordingly, a middling grade of C. If Canada is serious about tackling the housing crisis, now is the time for leadership, especially at the provincial level. We already know what works. The policy solutions are well understood and widely supported. What's missing is the political will to implement them. The housing crisis is not just a federal problem, or a municipal one. It is a national challenge – and solving it requires co-ordination and commitment from all three levels of government. The provinces hold many of the keys to housing, and need to act soon to help unlock supply.
National Observer
6 hours ago
- National Observer
Many Canadians less confident in future of trade relationship with US: Poll
Almost two in five Canadians say recent court rulings in the US, and the ongoing legal battle over President Donald Trump 's tariffs, have made them feel less confident in the future of trade relations, a new poll suggests. The poll suggests that 38 per cent of Canadians say they feel less confident now about the future of Canada-US trade as well as trade between the US and other countries. Sixteen per cent of Canadian respondents say they feel more confident, while 37 per cent say their level confidence in the future of the trade relationship hasn't changed. The Leger poll, which was conducted online and can't be assigned a margin of error, surveyed more than 1,500 people between May 30 and June 1. The poll also surveyed more than 1,000 Americans. Their responses to the poll were substantially similar. Thirty-six per cent of American respondents said the recent court rulings and the ongoing legal battle over Trump's tariffs made them feel less confident about the future of trade with Canada and with the rest of the world. Another 19 per cent reported feeling more confident and 31 per cent said their opinion hadn't changed. Trump's tariffs are still hitting most countries around the world after a federal appeals court temporarily paused a decision last week by the US Court of International Trade to block his tariffs. The court said Trump went beyond his authority when he used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to take his trade war to the world. A federal appeals court granted the Trump administration's emergency motion for a temporary stay, allowing those tariffs to stay in place for now. The poll suggests that Albertans are reporting the lowest level of confidence in the state of trade relations — 48 per cent of them told Leger they feel less confident about the future of Canada—US and US–international trade relations. That's compared to 38 per cent of Quebecers, 37 per cent of Ontarians and 35 per cent of people in BC. Among Canadians 55 years of age and older, 43 per cent reported feeling less confident in trade relations; just 33 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 34 said the same. More women than men said they were losing confidence. While many Canadians expressed concern about the future of trade relationships, many also said the fact that US courts are trying to limit Trump's impact on trade policy increases their trust in America's institutions. The poll suggests that 45 per cent of Canadians say their trust in US democratic institutions has increased, while 17 per cent say it has decreased. Almost a third of Canadians said it has had no impact on their opinion. Quebecers were the most likely to say their trust had increased, at 54 per cent, compared to 45 per cent of people in BC, 43 per cent of Ontarians and 39 per cent of Albertans. Canadians aged 55 and over were more likely to say their trust had increased than younger Canadians. Among the Americans surveyed, 38 per cent said the fact that US courts are trying to limit Trump's trade powers increases their trust in US democratic institutions. Another 24 per cent said it decreases their trust and 26 per cent said it had no impact on their opinion. Andrew Enns, Leger's executive vice-president for Central Canada, said that if there had been only one ruling — the one that blocked the tariffs — the confidence levels recorded by the poll might have been higher. "There was a second ruling and I think, if anything, it's left people a bit uncertain about the situation," Enns said, noting that levels of concern seemed to be higher earlier in the year. "I think the confidence, it's going to take some time to rebuild that." The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
