Ontario Construction News staff writer
A new federal Housing Design Catalogue fails to address the construction sector’s most pressing challenges, says Richard Lyall, president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON). The catalogue was released Tuesday with just fourteen municipalities committing to review the standardized plans.
“A housing catalogue may help a few limited specific situations, but it is nowhere near the top of the long list of issues that need to be addressed,” Lyall said. “It is therefore, relative to the scope of the issues, not a solution at scale nor a subject of conversation amongst builders.”
The catalogue provides 50 technical design packages for rowhouses, fourplexes, sixplexes and accessory dwelling units. Each package includes architectural and engineering drawings, cost estimates and guidance on building performance. The designs consider local building codes and were created by regional teams across Canada.
The participating cities include Burnaby, Kelowna, Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Ajax, Kitchener, Mississauga, Ottawa, Toronto, Saint John, Halifax, Whitehorse and Yellowknife. Discussions are ongoing with other local governments.
Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, with MPs Bardish Chagger and Tim Louis and Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, highlighted the catalogue as a tool to streamline approvals and support wood-frame construction. They say the catalogue makes it easier to add “gentle density” in existing neighbourhoods.
The initiative is part of broader federal housing efforts, including the new Build Canada Homes agency, which aims to double housing construction rates, improve affordability and reduce homelessness. The agency plans to combine federal lands, development expertise and financing to simplify large-scale projects.
Budget 2025, expected next month, is planned to introduce additional measures to lower construction costs and accelerate homebuilding.
The full catalogue can be accessed online, along with detailed technical packages: Housing Design Catalogue – CMHC.
