The Conservative Party says Canada is facing a housing crisis, with Statistics Canada reporting a sharp drop in residential permits. In November, the number of housing permits issued across the country fell 26 per cent—8,015 fewer units than the month prior. Since Prime Minister Mark Carney took office, permit approvals have dropped 27.7 per cent, or 8,731 fewer units since March.
The Conservatives note that Carney’s own housing agency has said Canada needs between 430,000 and 480,000 new homes per year over the next decade to meet demand. Even total permit numbers—which are typically higher than actual housing starts—fall far short of what is required to restore housing affordability.
The Parliamentary Budget Office has found that the federal Build Canada Homes program will only deliver 5,000 units annually, with ‘affordable’ rents potentially double the national median market rate.
The Conservative Party says the federal government currently has no plan to build the homes Canadians need. Conservatives are calling for policies that cut taxes on homebuilding, require municipalities to issue permits faster, and allow builders to construct more homes. They argue these steps are the only way to create housing, jobs, and hope, and to restore the dream of homeownership for Canadians.
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