Canada's Housing Policy Blitz
An Interactive Navigator for Federal & Ontario Initiatives (2023-2025) - Updated
Executive Summary: A System Re-Engineered
The period from 2023-2025 marked an era of unprecedented intervention in Canada's housing market. This updated navigator incorporates foundational governance changes, including Ontario's new Provincial Planning Statement and the restructuring of regional governments. The core strategy remains a dramatic pivot to boosting housing supply, but the mechanisms now involve not just legislative changes but a fundamental re-engineering of the planning system itself. This has centralized power, altered financial models, and created a new operating reality for all stakeholders.
Ontario's Goal
New homes by 2031.
Canada's Goal
New homes unlocked by 2031.
🇨🇦 Federal & CMHC Policy Architecture
The federal government deployed a multi-pronged strategy focused on capital injections, financial tools for buyers, and systemic reforms pushed onto municipalities. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) was the primary vehicle for implementing this agenda. Explore the key initiatives below.
Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF)
What it is: A $4.4 billion fund providing direct funding to municipalities to incentivize them to update zoning and speed up housing approvals. It funds systemic change, not specific projects.
Impact: A powerful catalyst forcing cities to adopt policies like allowing four-unit multiplexes "as-of-right" and eliminating parking minimums near transit. It effectively unlocks land value for small-scale developers.
Tax & Investment Incentives
Homeownership & Renter Support
First Home Savings Account (FHSA): A tax-free savings account for down payments.
30-Year Mortgage Amortizations: For first-time buyers of new construction, lowering monthly payments.
Canada Rental Protection Fund: $1.5B fund for non-profits to acquire and preserve affordable rental buildings.
Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights: A federal blueprint for national standards on leases and eviction protections.
🏛️ Ontario's New Planning Framework
Beyond specific bills, Ontario fundamentally re-engineered its land-use planning system. These foundational changes centralize power and create a new rulebook for growth across the province.
Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) 2024
Effective October 20, 2024, the PPS 2024 replaces two documents to create one streamlined, province-wide policy. Its goal is to provide flexibility and speed up development.
Key Impact: The biggest change is the elimination of Municipal Comprehensive Reviews (MCRs) for settlement area boundary expansions. Developers can now apply to expand urban boundaries at any time, dramatically speeding up the potential for greenfield development.
Restructuring of Government Powers
The province also changed who is responsible for planning approvals, removing layers of government to accelerate decisions.
Removal of Regional Planning Authority
Planning power was removed from upper-tier regions and given directly to lower-tier municipalities. This eliminates one level of approval.
Effective July 1, 2024: Halton, Peel, York.
Slated for Future: Durham, Niagara, Simcoe, Waterloo.
Changes to Conservation Authorities Act
The role of Conservation Authorities (CAs) in development was significantly narrowed, focusing them on natural hazards like flooding and erosion.
Impact: Reduces CA oversight and their ability to appeal planning decisions, removing a potential source of delay for developers but raising environmental concerns.
📜 Ontario's Legislative Blitz
Ontario's strategy was executed through a series of aggressive omnibus bills. Together, they represent a systematic project to de-risk and cheapen development. Use the interactive tool below to compare how key policy areas were changed.
🎯 Policy Impact Analysis
The wave of new policies has created a new landscape with clear winners and losers. Select a stakeholder group from the dropdown below to see a tailored analysis of the key policies affecting them.