Carney announces launch of new housing agency, earmarks funding for new projects

[Allan]

Carney is putting the pieces together to fast track home construction starts. The cost of housing is the most important issue for Canadians and one of his key election promises.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Sunday afternoon the launch of Build Canada Homes, the federal government's new agency that will oversee federal housing programs.

The agency was part of the Liberals' election promise to double housing construction.

The government is touting Build Canada Homes as a centralized agency to oversee new affordable housing programs initiated at the federal level.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-new-housing-agency-1.7632981

Parliament is back in session today and Poilievre has a seat so will undoubtedly criticize this program during Question Period.

Trudeau claimed that when Pierre was responsible for housing only six units were constructed. Poilievre claims 200,000 were built. Both are wild exaggerations and I'm sure fictional numbers will be bandied about today.

 

[Surrealistik]

Carney is putting the pieces together to fast track home construction starts. The cost of housing is the most important issue for Canadians and one of his key election promises.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-new-housing-agency-1.7632981

Parliament is back in session today and Poilievre has a seat so will undoubtedly criticize this program during Question Period.

Trudeau claimed that when Pierre was responsible for housing only six units were constructed. Poilievre claims 200,000 were built. Both are wild exaggerations and I'm sure fictional numbers will be bandied about today.

Definitely one of the key issues that will make or break Carney, especially since Canada's cost of living crisis is in many ways worse than America's, the issue that cost Kamala the 2024 election, and that is certainly true when it comes to housing.

It's imperative he delivers here.

 

[Allan]

Definitely one of the key issues that will make or break Carney, especially since Canada's cost of living crisis is in many ways worse than America's, the issue that cost Kamala the 2024 election, and that is certainly true when it comes to housing.

It's imperative he delivers here.

It used to be that cities like Vancouver and Toronto were unaffordable for buyers not enjoying a comfortable double income.

Now it's almost every city. Halifax and Toronto now have similar housing costs which is batshit crazy.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Carney is putting the pieces together to fast track home construction starts. The cost of housing is the most important issue for Canadians and one of his key election promises.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-new-housing-agency-1.7632981

Parliament is back in session today and Poilievre has a seat so will undoubtedly criticize this program during Question Period.

Trudeau claimed that when Pierre was responsible for housing only six units were constructed. Poilievre claims 200,000 were built. Both are wild exaggerations and I'm sure fictional numbers will be bandied about today.

How, exactly, does this (housing subsidy?) program work?

 

[Allan]

How, exactly, does this (housing subsidy?) program work?

It's not primarily intended to be a subsidy program. The goal is to ramp up homebuilding by supporting private contractors with initial repayable funding and fast-tracking development permits.

The houses will be purchased.

 

[ttwtt78640]

It's not primarily intended to be a subsidy program. The goal is to ramp up homebuilding by supporting private contractors with initial repayable funding and fast-tracking development permits.

The houses will be purchased.

I still don’t understand.

Does that (bolded above) mean the homebuilder gets $X per home now so that each home’s sale price will (must?) be reduced by $X when its sold?

 

[Allan]

I still don’t understand.

Does that (bolded above) mean the homebuilder gets $X now so that the home’s sale price will (must?) be reduced by $X when its sold?

Nope. The funding to the homebuilders is to enable start up operations - for example land purchase.

The program is based on the housing programs for returning WWII veterans. Modular prefab homes that can be erected quickly and purchased.

There are at least two new companies setting up to do this and there will be more. The funding helps them with initial capital costs.

 

[Surrealistik]

It used to be that cities like Vancouver and Toronto were unaffordable for buyers not enjoying a comfortable double income.

Now it's almost every city. Halifax and Toronto now have similar housing costs which is batshit crazy.

I'm not going to lie, I'm feeling more than a tad pessimistic seeing this to be the extent of his plan; what we really need to alleviate the pain in major cities is affordable apartments; high density residential: projects, commieblocks, whatever you want to call them.

The plan thus far appears to be focused only on modular homes, which is going to be a band aide solution at best.

 

[Allan]

I'm not going to lie, I'm feeling more than a tad pessimistic seeing this to be the extent of his plan; what we really need to alleviate the pain in major cities is affordable apartments; high density residential: projects, commieblocks, whatever you want to call them.

Agree.

The plan thus far appears to be focused only on modular homes, which is going to be a band aide solution at best.

What we know so far is the funding for the new agency and what I expect is going to be a multi-pronged approach. I don't believe Caney is daft enough to believe there's only one solution.

Your other ideas need to be included. That type of low cost affordable multi-tenant housing is a provincial responsibility and I'm hopeful we'll see some federal/provincial projects announced.

 

[JANFU]

Definitely one of the key issues that will make or break Carney, especially since Canada's cost of living crisis is in many ways worse than America's, the issue that cost Kamala the 2024 election, and that is certainly true when it comes to housing.

It's imperative he delivers here.

Read somewhere that modular type housing would also be used. Build up and not out should be a priority. Same as Condos where low incomes will have the opportunity to purchase a home.

 

[JANFU]

Nope. The funding to the homebuilders is to enable start up operations - for example land purchase.

The program is based on the housing programs for returning WWII veterans. Modular prefab homes that can be erected quickly and purchased.

There are at least two new companies setting up to do this and there will be more. The funding helps them with initial capital costs.

There are a number of companies that do this in the US.
Lower costs per unit and better quality.

 

[Allan]

There are a number of companies that do this in the US.
Lower costs per unit and better quality.

Yup. Without weather impediments you can build year round.

 

[ttwtt78640]

There are a number of companies that do this in the US.
Lower costs per unit and better quality.

The following link is to a manufactured home community across the road from where we live:

Manufactured Home Community in Kyle, Texas | Creeks Crossing

Buy or rent a quality manufactured home in our beautiful community in Kyle, with resort style amenities, basketball court, playground, and a heated pool.

www.suncommunities.com

 

[Surrealistik]

Read somewhere that modular type housing would also be used. Build up and not out should be a priority. Same as Condos where low incomes will have the opportunity to purchase a home.

As long as modular housing is only part of the solution; the biggest portion of it will absolutely have to be high density builds for our urban areas where the affordability problem is at its worst by far.