Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, with arms outstretched, during a visit to PEI National Park in Prince Edward Island, 28 July
To implement this, the government created a new agency, Build Canada Homes, which will finance private developers and approve major projects. The agency will require the use of Canadian lumber, steel, and aluminum, supporting domestic industries in response to U.S. tariffs.
The first phase will focus on six federal sites, providing 4,000 homes. Locations include Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Longueuil, Quebec; Ottawa and Toronto in Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Edmonton, Alberta. These projects mark the starting point of a broader strategy to scale up supply across the country.
Build Canada Homes will also introduce a C$1.5 billion fund to acquire rental apartment buildings at risk of being lost to the private market. This measure is designed to preserve long-term affordability. In addition, the government allocated C$1 billion for transitional and supportive housing programs to assist people experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their housing.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the urgency of the initiative: “Canada’s new government is relentlessly focused on bringing down housing costs. Central to that mission is rapidly scaling up the supply of homes. Build Canada Homes will transform the way government works with the private sector to build. We will create an entirely new housing industry using Canadian technology, Canadian workers, and Canadian resources – and give builders the tools they need to build more, build sustainably, and build at scale.”
A government press release added: “With Build Canada Homes, Canadian private builders will have the certainty they need to build at scale and speed.”
The initiative signals a shift toward integrating government resources with private sector capacity to meet growing housing demand. By leveraging prefabrication and modular construction, Canada aims to reduce costs, accelerate project timelines, and improve sustainability. The use of domestic building materials further aligns with the government’s goal of strengthening national supply chains while addressing housing challenges.
This program also underscores a long-term approach, combining immediate housing construction with measures to protect existing affordable rental units. The mix of new developments and preservation of current housing stock is designed to provide stability in the housing market.
Overall, the launch of Build Canada Homes marks a significant step in Canada’s strategy to address affordability concerns. Through large-scale construction, targeted investment funds, and new support for vulnerable populations, the plan seeks to reshape the housing sector with an emphasis on speed, sustainability, and domestic resources.
