Ottawa plans $1.7-billion boost in housing transfers to provinces, territories
Bill Curry, Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief, Ottawa, Published March 26, 2026 Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne tabled new housing legislation Thursday that proposes providing an additional $1.7-billion in immediate funding to provinces and territories. Bill C-26, the Improving Housing Supply Act, is a very short bill that simply authorizes a one-time payment of $1.713-billion to increase new housing supply. There are no other provisions in the legislation. Provinces could spend the...
read moreCan Canadian apartment rents keep falling?
Real estate analyst breaks down outlook for multifamily as population growth reverses and new supply comes online By David Kitai, Mar 19, 2026 Rents for housing of all kinds have been falling for 17 consecutive months, news that should make renters celebrate and investors worry. The apparent investment case of a constantly growing population, steady GDP growth, and a serious lack of supply have all been undone by curbs to immigration rates, US trade uncertainty, and the completion of a new...
read moreCanadian Building Intentions Surge, Mostly Government Spending
Daniel Wong, March 12, 2026 Canadian headline building intentions are still coming in strong, but details are less flattering. Statistics Canada (StatCan) data show building permit values climbed in January, but remain weaker than pre-2023 levels once inflation-adjusted. A non-residential surge was behind most of the improvement, but it was taxpayer-funded, cementing Canada’s dependence on borrowed growth. Building permit values climbed 4.8% to $13.3 billion in January, one of the highest...
read moreCanada’s Public Spending Spree Means Higher Mortgages For Longer
Stephen Punwasi, March 6, 2026 Canada is using public spending to mask private sector weakness, and the bill won’t stop at taxes. A new National Bank of Canada (NBC) report warns public investment is growing at over twice the rate of overall GDP. It’s also fueling more borrowing, lifting the benchmark rate that impacts borrowing costs for everything from government debt to your mortgage. Recently more of that spending has been directed into capital projects, including defence—but swapping...
read moreCanada Uses Accounting Trick To Hit Delayed Immigration Target: PBO
Stephen Punwasi, February 26, 2026 Canada’s non-partisan numbers watchdog expects policymakers to hit their immigration goal… sort of. A new report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) shows Ottawa will hit its temporary resident reduction target. The analysis also reveals it’s being met by delaying implementation and reclassifying 148,000 temporary residents. The latest update presents a plan that prioritizes the optics of action over the urgency they initially conveyed. Canada Eases...
read moreOpinion: Higher taxes — the last thing British Columbians need
Tegan Hill: Tax hikes in the 2026 B.C. budget will increase the lowest personal income tax rate, expand the PST to a host of professional services, and raise the speculation and vacancy tax by one percentage point. By Tegan Hill, Published Feb 18, 2026 The David Eby government tabled its 2026 budget on Tuesday, which includes a whopping projected $13.3-billion deficit and several tax hikes. For a province already struggling with tax competitiveness, this is the last thing British Columbians...
read moreRental Proving An Anchor In Canadian Real Estate For 2026
Activity on the ground shows rental housing isn’t slowing down. It’s a realm of the real estate market that continues to resonate Canada-wide, month after month, in ways that suggest it’s here to stay. STOREYS Editorial Team, February 13, 2026 Canada’s rental housing market may not always grab snappy headlines, but it’s quietly proving its staying power. Across the country, large-scale organizations are putting capital into purpose-built rental housing, whether through acquisitions,...
read moreHow the other half rents: taking stock of Canada’s high-end rental market
Despite evident demand, the supply of exclusive, high-end rental units remains limited By Murtaza Haider and Stephen Moranis Published Feb 02, 2026 Do luxury and rental housing meet? Of course they do. Luxury rental housing is a relatively small yet critical segment of the purpose-built rental market, serving high-net-worth individuals who seek the quality of dwellings they once owned, or could easily own, without the burdens of homeownership. However, surprisingly little is known about the...
read moreMaking sense of the Bank of Canada interest rate decision on January 28, 2026
Penelope Graham January 30, 2026 The Bank of Canada holds its benchmark rate at 2.25%, impacting variable mortgages, fixed rates, and savings as economic risks persist in 2026. The first central bank announcement of the year is upon us—and the Bank of Canada kicked it off with a rate hold, keeping the benchmark cost of borrowing in Canada at 2.25%, where it has remained since last October. This rate is used by lenders when setting their prime rates and, by extension, floating-rate borrowing...
read moreHuge disparities in housing approvals and development fees found across Canadian cities by Senate report
It can take 11 years from the time a first proposal is made until a housing project is completed in Toronto, the Senate committee on banking, commerce and the economy found in its study. Salmaan Farooqui Published January 21, 2026 A Senate report highlighting large discrepancies in building timelines and development charges among Canadian municipalities is calling for federal funding to be contingent on cities proving that they can fast track housing projects and lower builder fees. The report...
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