Spring Economic Update Takes Steps Toward More Comprehensive Plan for Housing Supply and Affordability

CHBA is pleased to see a broad swath of measures for residential construction, both new and continuing, in today’s Spring Economic Update from the federal government. CHBA has continuously called for a comprehensive approach to addressing Canada’s housing supply and affordability crisis. While more measures are required, and details must be formalized to ensure the announced measures have the intended impact, today’s Update shows further steps in that direction.

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Low builder confidence illustrates need for sustained federal action plan focused on homeownership housing

CHBA’s Q1 2026 Housing Market Index (HMI) shows near record-low builder confidence in the single-family market and a new record low in the multi-family market—signalling fewer housing starts for homeownership ahead without focused policy action. 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.

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GST relief for first-time home buyers now in effect 

After almost a year since the Prime Minister announced the government’s intention to remove the GST on new homes under $1 million and lower it on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million for first-time buyers, Bill C-4 (the bill containing the legislation) has finally received Royal Assent.

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Canada’s new home construction challenges ongoing amid economic uncertainty

CHBA’s 2025 Q2 Housing Market Index (HMI) saw little change since last quarter, with builders remaining decidedly pessimistic about sales conditions. CHBA’s single-family HMI is 24.9 (out of 100), and the multi-family HMI is 22.8 – both at near record lows, and firmly in negative builder sentiment territory for the twelfth straight quarter.

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Dim outlook for new home construction in Ontario and BC as sentiment in Canada’s new home construction industry stays in near record-low territory

CHBA’s 2025 Q1 Housing Market Index (HMI) is in its eleventh quarter of negative sentiment since dropping from the post-pandemic highs in 2021 and early 2022. 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.

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