CHBA Submits Federal Budget Recommendations to Finance Committee    

CHBA has provided recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance’s consultation on the development of the 2025 federal budget, and has already been engaged in meetings and consultations related thereto. The Finance Committee will include select recommendations from this process in a report to be tabled in the House of Commons. The report provides the Department of Finance and the Finance Minister with what the Committee recommends in terms of policies, programs and priorities for Budget 2025. The Department of Finance also conducts separate pre-budget consultations in which CHBA is engaged. Ordinarily, the federal budget is tabled in the spring. However, this year, with the election of new government, they have delayed it until this fall. In addition to providing pre-budget recommendations through these formal consultation processes, CHBA continually engages with political and departmental officials throughout the year to address issues important to the sector and how they should feed into budget decisions. CHBA continues to push on getting the GST rebate expanded to all buyers, and to get the stalled Bill through parliament as soon as possible when the House returns.

Build Canada Homes Consultation       

The Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada has launched a consultation into its proposed Build Canada Homes (BCH). Per the consultation guide, BCH will oversee activities for affordable (social) housing. CHBA has already consulted with the federal Minister of Housing and his staff as well as the Deputy Minister of Housing and his officials on the design and purview of BCH, and is also providing an official submission to the consultation process. The key message that CHBA will continue to deliver is that it will be important for the government to stick to its plan to partner with industry to actually build the units under BCH, and that, beyond the BHC, there needs to be much more focus on market-rate housing policy in order to achieve the government’s 500,000 homes per year target. It is policies and initiatives that support affordability and supply for more market-rate housing that are the key to doubling housing starts and closing the housing supply gap.

Inaugural Release of Statistics Canada’s New Housing Market Report     

Thanks to dozens of engagements through CHBA with HBAs and members across the country, Statistics Canada (StatCan) recently published their first edition of the New Housing Market Report. StatCan relied heavily on all levels of the Association to connect them with builder members in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Atlantic Provinces for this new undertaking. Though limited in scope in this first pilot, this initiative stands to provide both the industry and public with a much-needed centralized source of local new home market data, including average prices and square footage. The team at StatCan plans to expand the survey, which is voluntary but strongly encouraged, to builders in Ontario and Alberta in 2026. If you are interested in receiving this survey from StatCan in the future, please email CHBA Economist Evan Andrade.

SAVE THE DATE: October is Renovation Month   

October is Renovation Month, and CHBA is planning a month-long campaign to inspire homeowners to take action on their renovation goals by choosing verified RenoMark contractors. The campaign will focus on the benefits of working with trusted professionals and drive traffic to RenoMark.ca. In addition to organic social media, paid digital ads, and earned media outreach, a promotional toolkit will be available for HBAs, members, and partners to participate and share widely across their networks. If you are a renovator or trade contractor who hasn’t joined RenoMark – NOW is the time. Complete the verification process today!

Call for Interest in Net Zero Council Member and Sponsor Applications    

APPLY BY SEP 19 @ 5PM ET 
Join the Net Zero Council and be part of the leadership group working together to accelerate the voluntary adoption of Net Zero Homes in Canada. To learn more about the Council’s efforts, you can find the current NZC Strategic Plan and 10 Year Impact Report here. The NZC member fees are available here and the member and sponsor benefits are here. CHBA members are invited to apply for membership on the Council for a 2-year term starting November 1, 2025. There are currently 9 voting member seats available: 1 Silver Sponsor, 3 Bronze Sponsor, and 5 Builder/Renovator Member seats. The NZC is seeking members able to attend the 2 in-person meetings each year, to actively participate in the conversations so we can move our important work forward. The first two in-person meetings for the coming term will be on May 4, 2026, in Quebec City as part of our Home Building Week in Canada, and October 19, 2026, in Ottawa (the exact date is still to be confirmed). Submit your application form via email to Sonja Winkemann by September 19. 

Have your Say on CSA Z251: Design of Volumetric Modular Structures     

CSA is developing a brand-new standard on the design of modular buildings – CSA Z251: Design of Volumetric Modular Structures. It’s now open for public review until September 22, 2025, and CHBA is actively engaged. The proposed standard aims to bring clarity and consistency to the design of modular-specific elements like transportation loads, connections, fire separation, and services — areas where traditional code provisions don’t always fit the particulars of modular buildings. It’s a big step toward more predictable and aligned requirements across jurisdictions, but it also bears the risk of writing best practices into regulation. CHBA is at the table of the CSA committee helping shape this standard, and will engage CHBA’s Modular Construction Council, but we are seeking broader input — if you design, build, or work with modular homes, we encourage you to take a look and send in your comments – especially if your practice involves off‑site volumetric design, installation, or regulatory approvals. You can participate directly in the public review through CSA’s site (in which case, we would also appreciate receiving a copy of your recommendations), or if you prefer, send your input to CHBA so we can represent your views in our ongoing work. Check out the draft Z251 standard here. For more information, please email Frank Lohmann.