Canada’s federal government is taking major steps to accelerate homebuilding and improve housing affordability across the country. As part of this initiative, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Build Canada Homes has approved eight new affordable housing projects in Ottawa, which together will deliver more than 1,100 new rental homes. The announcement exceeds the government’s original target by nearly 10%, with over 90% of the projects dedicated to affordable rental housing. Most of the developments are expected to begin construction before the end of the year.
The initiative is part of a broader national strategy focused on increasing housing supply while reducing construction costs for developers and future homeowners. Since its launch in September, Build Canada Homes has already committed to supporting more than 10,000 housing units nationwide, with over 1,400 homes currently under construction or preparing to break ground. Through partnerships with municipalities and developers, the government aims to speed up project approvals and deliver mixed-income housing communities at a larger scale.
To further support the construction sector, the federal government introduced the Build Communities Strong Fund, designed to improve housing-related infrastructure and reduce municipal development charges. In collaboration with the Province of Ontario, municipalities will reduce development charges by 50% over the next three years. In Ottawa, this measure alone could lower the construction cost of a typical two-bedroom apartment by more than $15,000, helping builders accelerate projects while making housing more affordable for Canadians.
Keywords: affordable housing, homebuilding, Build Canada Homes, Ottawa housing projects, rental housing, construction industry, development charges, mixed-income communities, housing affordability, Canadian builders, Ontario Builders
Source: The official website of the Prime Minister of Canada
