CHBA Continues to Push for (Expanded) GST Relief on New Homes  

In May, the federal government officially announced a GST rebate for first-time buyers of new construction homes, removing the GST on new homes at or under $1 million and lower it on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million, effective May 27, 2025. However, the necessary legislation was not passed prior to Parliament’s summer recess, and as a result, home buyers and builders still cannot yet apply for the rebate, which has hindered sales and slowed home building activity in many areas of the country. CHBA pushed this issue all summer, and with parliament resumed, is using multiple angles to urge policymakers to get the Bill C-4 legislation passed as soon as possible. CHBA also continues to advocate for a broadening of the GST relief to be adjusted to be for all homebuyers, not just first-time buyers, and to include Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and secondary suites. Given ongoing delays, CHBA has posted a video of CEO Kevin Lee explaining why urgent action on Bill C-4 is critical, targeting members of parliament and media. Members who want quick action on the GST relief are encouraged to share the video (you can find it on LinkedIn here and X/Twitter here), commenting how your own business is being affected and/or how you see sales and buyers being affected, and tagging your MP saying you want action.

Build Canada Homes Only Part of the Solution to Canada’s Housing Crisis  

As a reflection of CHBA’s extensive engagement with the Minister of Housing, Deputy Minister of Housing, and other federal officials on Build Canada Homes (BCH), CHBA CEO Kevin Lee was invited to attend the official announcement of the launch of BCH along with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Minister of Housing Gregor Robertson, and newly appointed CEO of BCH Ana Bailão. While BCH is not about market-rate homes, the government has committed to partnering with industry to develop land and built the housing units. Lee attended a reception afterwards with officials, giving him a chance to continue dialogue on the issue and remind the Minister of Housing, gathered Members of Parliament, and other officials, of the importance of not focusing only on affordable (social) housing but also continuing with policies that help market-rate home construction in order to restore affordability throughout the entire housing continuum. CHBA members can read more about CHBA’s stance on Build Canada Homes here.

CHBA Hosts International Housing Association Meetings 

In September, CHBA hosted the International Housing Association (IHA) meeting Calgary and Banff. CHBA was a founding member of the IHA over 30 years ago. The IHA is essentially the international association of home builders’ associations, allowing national association leaders from around the world to address common issues and globally significant priority areas identified by member countries. Through collaboration with other IHA countries, CHBA’s participation impacts international affairs that affect Canada’s residential construction industry, while also bringing back to Canada lessons learned from abroad to inform CHBA activities to best serve CHBA members. From having significant impact on the International Monetary Fund’s assessment of Canada’s housing market, to developing CHBA’s Housing Market Index, and much more, CHBA’s engagement with IHA has been extremely beneficial to CHBA and its advocacy, and hence members across the country. CHBA CEO Kevin Lee is past chair of the IHA, and at the latest meetings in Calgary/Banff, CHBA was asked to serve as secretariat moving forward, as NAHB steps away from that role. For more information about how the IHA benefits CHBA members, click here.  

New CMHC Data for Accessory Dwelling Units & Secondary Suites 

Given the increased importance on infill, densification, and homebuyer demands, CHBA has long asked for housing starts data to break out some of the various multi-family dwelling types that are reported under the “apartments and other” category. As a result, CMHC is now reporting accessory unit starts in areas with a population over 10,000. These starts are based on the issuance of a permit for an accessory suite. These starts statistics can be accessed through spreadsheets from CMHC’s website. This kind of data has been of interest for both builders and renovators alike and CHBA is still pushing for additional data for plexes and other forms of medium density starts reporting, and is expected that that breakdown will be available in not too distant the future. For any questions, please email Evan Andrade, CHBA Economist.

Federal Government to Table Budget on November 4   

In addition to providing a submission to the Department of Finance’s pre-budget consultation, CHBA CEO Kevin Lee was recently among industry leaders invited to a housing roundtable hosted by Secretary of State Wayne Long, to expand upon CHBA’s recommendations. These submissions and meetings are part of the year-round advocacy CHBA does to inform government policymakers and officials of the challenges facing the residential construction industry. Recommendations from CHBA are intended to provide a roadmap for the government on how to create good policies to help the sector, which in turn will help affordability and supply. Following the budget, CHBA will host a webinar to analyze the contents of the budget and to explain to members what that will mean for their businesses. Members can register here. 

Celebrate Renovation Month with RenoMark   

October is Renovation Month, and CHBA is launching 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, where homeowners can find information about Reno Month and search the RenoMark member directory to hire a professional. RenoMark members will receive a library of digital assets that can be customize with your logo and project photos, along with emails throughout the month to help you participate and build the campaign’s momentum. If you are a renovator or trade contractor who hasn’t joined RenoMark, it is not too late. Complete the verification process today!

WEBINAR: Air Tightness + Air Barrier: Renovating for Impact   

October 30, 2025 @ 1PM ET / 11AM PT 

Join CHBA and Building Knowledge Canada for a dynamic expert panel webinar that is part of the Renovating for High Performance: A Towards Net Zero Renos Webinar Series. This session, Air Tightness + Air Barrier: Renovating for IMPACT, explores how improving air sealing and barrier systems can dramatically enhance energy performance, durability, and indoor comfort in home retrofits. Learn practical strategies and innovative approaches from leading industry experts: Gord Cooke (Building Knowledge Canada), Mark Tritton (The Lanark Design/Build Group), Fellipe Falluh (Retrofit Construction), and Stephen Magneron (Homesol Building Solutions). Register here.