Housing Issues in Federal Election Platforms & Post-Election Webinar  

The 2025 federal election is providing all political parties with an opportunity to unlock the door to homeownership by supporting policies that will improve housing affordability. CHBA engages with the government and all parties to inform party policies and platforms as it pertains to housing affordability, advocating for its importance and the critical need for the federal government to address it. Members can read CHBA’s Recommendations on the Federal Role 2025 here. Since the election was called, CHBA has been tracking the housing affordability platform elements in each major national party and how they respond to CHBA’s recommendations. As campaign pledges have been made and details (if any) shared, the tracker has been updated on CHBA's affordability.ca website, along with blog posts on housing topics. On May 8th, CHBA will be hosting a post-election webinar for members – Register here.

Q1 2025 Housing Market Index Shows Dissolved Optimism Among Builders    

The latest Housing Marketing Index (HMI) shows a dim outlook for new home construction in Ontario and BC as sentiment of Canada’s new home construction industry stays in near record-low territory. CHBA’s single-family HMI is 26.4 for Q1 2025 (out of 100). This score remains close to the index’s record low of 24.6 in Q4 2023 and is down 8.5 points from the score from the same time last year. The multi-family HMI is 22.3, which remains essentially at its record low score of 22.0 from Q4 2024. While industry sentiment has been low for eleven quarters, builders have typically remained optimistic that future sales would be an improvement over their current sales conditions (though still in negative territory). However, that optimism has dissolved: for the first time since the HMI started, the majority of both single- and multi-family builders rated their expectations for future sales as “poor” and worse than their current state.

CHBA Advocates for Improvements to Development Infrastructure Challenges   

CHBA CEO Kevin Lee participated in a roundtable discussion with the Canadian Infrastructure Council (CIC) on Infrastructure Development, Financing and Delivery, from the perspectives of key leaders representing housing developers and builders, in support of the Council’s work on Canada’s first National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA). The first NIA will focus on the core public infrastructure needed to build more housing: water and wastewater; public transit and active transportation; waste management; and the impacts on these systems from population growth and climate change. CHBA provided a comprehensive overview of the home construction sector as it relates to challenges and opportunities regarding infrastructure, particularly on financing projects and development charges.

CHBA Meets with New Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

CHBA met with Paul Halucha, the newly appointed Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. The Deputy Minister is the top public servant for housing in Canada and will work closely alongside whoever will become Canada’s next Minister of Housing by providing strategic advice and guidance. CHBA discussed the many challenges facing the home construction sector as well as provided key recommendations on addressing barriers to home building and affordability. CHBA also focused on other issues facing the industry, including the tariff war with the United States and the sectoral outlook via CHBA’s Housing Market Index. CHBA and the Deputy Minister will be meeting again as the new government comes into place.

NEW! Level Up At Your Own Pace – Advanced Building Science Course  

CHBA MEMBER PRICING WITH REBATE = ONLY $100!
Get ready for tiered building codes before your competition and set yourself apart in the industry. CHBA’s Advanced Building Science Course is now available to take at your own pace, meaning you can complete the anticipated 6-8 hours of coursework when it’s convenient for you. This course is also eligible for a $400 rebate through CHBA’s Enabling Tiered Codes – Implementation and Market Preparedness project, funded by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) under the Codes Acceleration Fund (CAF), which means it’s only $100 for CHBA members who pass the exam. Funding is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about the course, which builds the foundation for CHBA’s Net Zero Builder Training, here.

CHBA’s Home Building Week in Canada and Annual Meeting of Members  

MAY 11-15, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC

Registration is still open for the must-attend national home building event of the year! Connect with industry leaders from across the country during an intensive series of Association business meetings, celebrate the best in home building and renovation from coast to coast with engaging sessions, fun-packed social events, and celebrating the winners of the Association Leadership Awards and the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence. CHBA’s Annual Meeting of Members will take place May 13th as part of the pre-conference meetings. More information on registration and the schedule are available on the CHBA website. Register today!