Homebuilding processes stymied by provincial administrations, report indicates
CANADA - A new report, 'Report Card on More and Better Housing,' released by the Task Force for Housing and Climate, has urged provinces across Canada to elevate their efforts in building quality homes, as the federal government and cities have made notable progress in expanding the housing supply.
The evaluation, assembled by the non-governmental body (which was struck in 2023 with backing from the philanthropic Clean Economy Fund), did not grant a grade higher than C+ to any province. The report assessed governments based on their policies geared towards constructing homes quickly and sustainably.
Provinces' vital role in improving Canada's housing supply criticized
The federal government received the highest grade in the country - a B - while Alberta ranked at the bottom with a D+. The rest of the provinces' scores were in the C range.
The report's author, Mike Moffatt (the founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative at the University of Ottawa), argued that provinces have, so far, evaded "scrutiny" for their part in exacerbating the housing crisis. Instead, Ottawa and cities have been criticized for red tape and high costs.
"The main responsibility lies with the provinces," said Moffatt. "They have the most policy levers and, in many cases, have done the least."
The report was co-chaired by former Edmonton mayor Don Iveson and former deputy leader of the federal Conservatives Lisa Raitt. Prime Minister Mark Carney was one of the group's members before becoming the federal Liberal leader.
"Presently, no government is doing enough to facilitate the construction of these homes," said Raitt in a statement accompanying the report.
The report card was constructed based on evaluations of government policies to promote factory-built housing, fill in market gaps, boost density, map high-risk areas, and update building codes.
The report found considerable variation even within provinces. Saskatchewan and Ontario were commended for building away from high-risk areas but fell short on increasing density. British Columbia, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island received a score of C+ - the highest grade awarded to any province.
Moffatt expressed concerns about B.C.'s delayed permit approvals and high building costs, which undermined its encouragement of density, despite such encouragement on paper. Alberta's strength in the pace of housing starts was primarily due to leadership at the municipal level in Calgary and Edmonton, rather than provincial policy, according to Moffatt.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith argued that the government wasn't standing in the way of the private sector to build more affordable housing. She stated that increasing housing supply would "automatically" decrease costs for Albertans.
Moffatt supported Smith's stance, noting it was crucial to lower barriers to development for expanding the supply of affordable housing. However, he emphasized that a balanced approach was needed, emphasizing that provinces must take responsibility for the housing demand they induce (through successful marketing campaigns to lure Ontarians to the province), ensure sustainable construction, and fill gaps in social housing.
The report also pointed out that provinces have neglected mapping flood plains and need to address provincial legislation resulting in higher development charges. Moreover, the federal government's housing accelerator fund, which encourages municipalities to streamline zoning rules, has made headway but needs enforcement tools to ensure accountability from cities after striking funding deals with Ottawa.
Moffatt plans to utilize the report card framework to track housing goals' progress in the future and conduct further research on municipalities' housing policies.
This report was originally published by The Canadian Press on May 29, 2025, by Craig Lord.
- The report, 'Report Card on More and Better Housing,' indicates that provinces in Canada have been criticized for not doing enough to facilitate the construction of quality homes, despite having the most policy levers.
- The evaluation of government policies pertaining to housing sustainability and construction reveals that despite variation within provinces, British Columbia, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island received the highest grade - a C+ - highlighting the need for further improvements in their housing policies.
