Ottawa Construction News staff writer
With the federal budget tabled on April 16, the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) has outlined what it believes are key initiatives aimed at addressing the housing crisis across the nation.
The association says that the government’s commitment to building nearly 3.9 million homes by 2031 underscores the urgent need for supply-side measures to help combat affordability.
In a statement, GOHBA executive director Jason Burggraaf said: “We applaud the federal government for investing in a diverse range of initiatives related to the housing and development industry.”
The budget proposes extending mortgage amortization for first-time homebuyers, expanding the Home Buyers’ Plan, increasing the use of factory-built components, and improving access to low-cost financing for rental apartment buildings.
The GOHBA also supports the creation of a Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, which the government previously announced will help to finance home building projects across the country.
Burggraaf added that the association agrees with the government’s intention to develop an Industrial Strategy for Homebuilding.
He said: “GOHBA’s federal counterpart, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, has a Sector Transition Strategy which outlines how this can unfold and why this type of strategy is necessary to increase productivity.”
The GOHBA says that it is committed to working with policymakers and industry stakeholders to help implement innovative solutions to the housing crisis in Ottawa and across the nation.
