CHBA Recommendations for Spring Economic Update Last year the federal government changed the federal budget to be tabled in the fall, with a fiscal update for spring. To support advocacy efforts in advance of the Spring Economic Update (SEU), CHBA has been working with Abacus Data to release information about how Canadians feel about the federal government’s actions to addressing affordability for homeownership, including measures such as GST and developments charges. The polling results support CHBA’s policy recommendations to the Federal Government in advance of the SEU, and the need for a holistic plan for market-rate housing. CHBA CEO Kevin Lee has been invited to attend the stakeholder lock-up on April 28, where he will get an advance, embargoed copy of the update and where he can speak with political and public service officials to give feedback on the documents and where more action is needed. CHBA continually inputs into federal government policy throughout the year, including through consultations, meetings, submissions, and our very successful Day on the Hill. Following the update, CHBA will provide members with an overview of the document and what it means for the home construction sector. 

CHBA CEO Kevin Lee invited to testify at HUMA on Build Canada Homes  

CHBA CEO Kevin Lee was invited to testify at the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development (HUMA) for its study of Bill C-20, An Act respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes (BCH). Lee’s remarks emphasized that while the federal government’s BCH initiative includes some positive measures – such as using public land and supporting modular construction as long-recommended by CHBA – much more beyond BCH will need to be done to solve housing affordability at large. Lee warned that declining homeownership construction and worsening affordability are putting pressure across the entire housing system, and that focusing only on subsidized housing will not fix the problem. CHBA continues to stress that a comprehensive housing strategy that addresses the needs of the full housing continuum, including reducing taxes and development charges permanently (which is starting, but needs a more fulsome plan and implementation), fixing mortgage rules, cutting red tape, and tackling workforce challenges, is imperative to meaningfully address affordability challenges. Read his opening statement here. 

CHBA’s 2026 Q1 Housing Market Index Shows Canada-Wide Further Decline 

CHBA’s Q1 2026 Housing Market Index (HMI), which CHBA uses to support advocacy efforts on behalf of members with federal government policymakers, the Bank of Canada, and with media, showed near record-low builder confidence in the single-family market and a new record low in the multi-family market. Even regions like Atlantic Canada and the prairies that had been weathering the trade-war storm are now slowing, with dropping builder confidence from coast to coast. The Q1 survey was put out into the field the day before the Ontario government announced its intention to expand the HST rebate, and has not yet had time to result in an uptick in Ontario’s HMI results. However, there is momentum in sales offices and if the political and administrative processes are finalized quickly, CHBA expects an improvement in builder sentiment to be reflected in the HMI for the province next quarter. Federal partnerships with the other provinces of a similar nature are supposed to be forthcoming, and are urgently needed. Read more about the HMI results in CHBA’s press release. 

Spring Renovation Market Index Survey in Field    

Following the success of the pilot RMI survey in December, CHBA is continuing to build the RMI panel of renovators and trade contractors that can share their views about the current business conditions and other issues facing the industry. Similar to the HMI, these on-the-ground experiences are then used to support the Association’s advocacy work on behalf of renovators and trade contractors, and bolster national media engagement on renovators’ issues. Policy makers like the Bank of Canada are also keenly interested in the RMI, given the lack of data on the sector. With only a few surveys sent a year and taking less than 10 minutes to complete, the RMI survey is a great way to ensure your voice is heard at the federal level. To participate in the current RMI survey, click here. You can also email CHBA to signal your interest in joining the panel of renovators and trade contractors, or view the full results of the first RMI on our website here.

Renovators: Opportunity for Project Support and Funding for Renovations Involving Resilience  

CHBA and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) are seeking renovators to participate in a Resilient Home Renovation Field Trial focused on reducing risks from high wind, urban flooding, wildfire, and hail. Selected projects will receive expert support including an Integrated Design Process (up to $12,000) plus funding toward resilience upgrades (up to $20,000). Learn more here and by joining the upcoming information session to get clarity on eligibility, timelines, and expectations. Register for the May 13, 2026, from 1:30–2:30 pm ET information session here. Ready to apply? Email the completed renovator application and homeowner interest forms to CHBA’s Brendon Fraser by May 29, 2026. Final projects will be selected by June 12, 2026.

THAT’S A WRAP! The “Towards Net Zero Renovations” initiative concludes after 4 years    

For the past four years, industry, homeowners, municipalities, and local HBAs have come together to advance CHBA’s nation-wide capacity building effort to deliver deep energy retrofits and Net Zero Renovations. In partnership with NRCan, the “Towards Cost-Effective Net Zero Energy Ready Residential Renovations” initiative supported 137 projects representing 348 housing units. Timelines were tight, yet the project teams provided Canadian homeowners with optimized house-as-a-system “Towards Net Zero Reno Roadmaps” and delivered on over $20M in renovations. We look forward to building the lessons learned from this initiative into our Net Zero Renovator training and continuing our work on the “Towards Net Zero Reno Roadmaps”!