GST Rebate for First-Time Buyers finally passes through House of Commons, but Senate rises before passing

Bill C-4, the legislation that contains the GST Rebate for First-Time Home Buyers, has finally passed through all stages of the House of Commons. However, the Senate now also adjourned for winter recess, and will not return until February 3. Because Bill C-4 cannot receive Royal Assent without being passed by the Senate, the GST relief remains on hold and therefore will not come to homebuyers in 2025. This is a major issue for industry and would-be homebuyers, stalling sales and the production of new housing further, building on the delays since the spring of 2025 that have paralyzed the market as buyers wait to buy to be guaranteed the GST rebate. Before final passage through the House of Commons, CHBA issued a press release aimed at getting the House to get the job done before rising for the break. While that was successful, the Senate’s rising, despite having a week left of potential sitting days, delayed things yet again. CHBA also continues to advocate for the expansion of GST relief to all buyers of new construction homes up to $1M and on a declining basis for homes up to $1.5M, and for renovations that add additional units of housing to existing homes.

CHBA attends Build Canada Homes Roundtable with Housing Minister   

CHBA CEO Kevin Lee attended a roundtable with Minister of Housing Gregor Robertson and head of Build Canada Homes (BCH) Ana Bailão. The roundtable brought together national housing sector partners for a focused exchange on BCH’s new Investment Policy Framework. The roundtable focused on BCH and its plans, which are limited to affordable housing projects on government lands. CHBA continues to emphasize the need for government housing policy to go well beyond BCH, given that the number of homes to be built under BCH is less than one per cent of the 500,000 units of all housing types that the government says needs to be built each year. In order to support the middle class and Canadians’ ability to attain market housing that they can afford (for rent or ownership), continued policy change at all levels of government to support affordability and supply of market housing will be required. Read a summary of what members need to know about BCH here.

Prepare your team for the higher energy tiers at significantly discounted prices 

$400 TRAINING REBATES OR DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
If you’re thinking about upskilling your team, there’s no better time than now! $400 rebates or discounts are available for these courses: Net Zero Market Advantage, Advanced Building Science, Net Zero Builder, Net Zero Renovator, and Net Zero for Building Officials. Instructor-led courses are delivered by CHBA Qualified Net Zero Service Organizations and new e-learning options are available 24/7/365 through CHBA. These courses build competency and capacity to prepare the industry for future building codes. Funding provided by NRCan through CHBA’s “Enabling Tiered Codes – Implementation and Market Preparedness” project. Learn more about the incentives and register here.

What modular construction can mean for builders and developers  

The latest issue of CHBA’s Building Excellence magazine explores factory-built construction, including its place in the industry, the current factors preventing wider adoption, and the potential it can have if those factors are overcome. There are articles featuring a builder’s first-hand experience incorporating modular into their company, the potential use with accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and the lessons and tips a developer learned doing their first modular project. Readers get an inside look at a factory in Winkler, Manitoba, learn what advancements in AI and automation mean for builders, and progress made when it comes to financing products that unlock modular deliveries for buyers. Thanks to the CHBA Modular Construction Council Management Committee members who contributed their insights to this special edition.

CHBA Renovation Webinar Series: Renovating for High Performance  

NEXT WEBINAR: JANUARY 14 @ 1PM ET
Join us for our continuing free in-depth webinar series on Renovating for High Performance, brought to you by CHBA’s Towards Net Zero Renovations initiative and Building Knowledge Canada. In this series, CHBA Renovator Members and experts bring advanced building science and hands-on wisdom to the table, discussing the ins and outs of key areas of renovations, and coupling theory with the real-world practice by sharing case studies of their own projects across Canada. Gain insight and hear from your peers about tips and tricks to improve your project’s durability, comfort and workflow, and see how these renovators are reaching or working towards CHBA’s Net Zero and Net Zero Ready labels on their projects. You will not want to miss the final webinar in the series, “Window Selection and Detailing,” on January 14, with live Q&A. Click here to register and here to watch the previous webinars on “Airtightness and Air Barriers,” “Above Grade Walls,” “Heating and Cooling,” and “Ventilation + Indoor Air Quality (recording coming soon)”

Adaptiv Home Renovation VIRTUAL Course    

FEBRUARY 24-25, 2026 | ONLINE
The Adaptiv Home Renovation Course provides knowledge and tools for professional renovators to better support Canadians who wish to live at home for as long as they can. The course includes an overview of the Adaptiv Home market, including specific design approaches and business opportunities. Renovators will learn about ramps and slopes, zero-step thresholds, curbless showers, accessibility equipment and home automation solutions. Don’t wait, this course sells out fast. Register today!

2025 CHBA Activities Wrap Up     

CHBA has had a busy year supporting your business. Your issues were front and centre in the media to help drive policy change. CHBA spent thousands of staff hours engaging with the federal government, in codes meetings, and launching and growing important CHBA initiatives to support members like you. And of course, all of it was made possible thanks to volunteer members and the support of our Alliance Network. Check out the video to see highlights from 2025.