10/12/2026
Canada Needs More Homes to Sustain Affordability
Over the past 15+ years, I’ve seen firsthand how shifts in both rural and urban markets shape the dream of homeownership for so many Canadians. Right now, we are facing a turning point: while recent improvements in affordability have offered a bit of relief, the slowdown in new home construction—especially for ownership properties—puts those gains at risk. Experts estimate we’ll need between 417,000 and 469,000 housing starts every year to bring affordability back to pre-pandemic levels by 2036, yet the gap in supply remains as wide as ever. Most of the new builds these days are rentals, and ownership opportunities have noticeably thinned out, even as more rental options help balance the market. Population growth has eased, which helps, but the pace of construction has dropped even faster than demand. That means when demand picks up again, we could still be left with a serious shortage. For anyone hoping to put down roots—whether in a city, a rural community, or a vacation spot—the message is clear: keeping ownership-focused construction moving is essential if we want to protect long-term affordability and offer real options to future homeowners.
