In 2023, higher rates resulted in 30,000 fewer housing starts
The private sector is central to increasing supply and improving affordability
How can Canada build its way out of housing supply challenges to improve affordability? With soaring demand and interest rates throwing a wrench in construction plans, the answer is far from simple.
This article explores the crucial role of the private sector in driving housing supply, analyzes the impact of interest rates on different types of housing, and outlines potential long-term solutions that could enhance private-sector confidence and inject capital in housing development.
Canada has an urgent need to build far more housing to address affordability challenges in many Canadian cities. Housing is a critical infrastructure for the economy, supporting labour mobility and ensuring a greater share of income can be invested in productive capital.
Significant barriers to increasing housing supply include the long-standing challenges of regulatory costs and delays. Increasing housing supply will also require training more workers and improving productivity in the development and construction industries. …[Continue Reading]