The Build Canada Homes (BCH) initiative signals a renewed commitment by the federal government to tackle the housing crisis with full force. While still very early in the planning process, it’s encouraging to hear our leadership express a commitment to accelerate construction, remove barriers that slow down approvals and deliver homes Canadians can afford.
However, phrases like “get the government back into the business of building” can be a bit disconcerting. Governments certainly have a role to play in setting the right conditions for success through clear policy direction, investment, and streamlined processes, but the actual delivery of housing has always relied on strong partnerships with private developers, non-profits, and community builders.
And that’s what BCH should do—empower those who have a long history of building and a reputation for delivering high-quality, livable communities. By aligning federal resources with the expertise of industry and community partners, Canada can build more homes, more quickly, and more affordably.
The challenge now is ensuring BCH becomes less about government “doing the building” and more about government enabling the builders.
Building Is Our Business, Let Us Do What We Do Best
One of the BCH’s most headline-grabbing goals is for the government to “act as a developer” and build housing at a scale on public lands. The urgency is appreciated, and the intention is commendable. Still, as a group of local developers in the region, we believe the most effective approach is one that uses the strength of the private sector.
Developers across Ontario have spent decades navigating complex planning processes, managing risk and delivering projects that house the members of our communities. Rather than a direct builder, the government has an opportunity to act as a facilitator and enabler to unlock land opportunity, streamline approvals and offer financing tools that empower developers to do what we do best: build.
Unlocking and Opportunities
One of the most critical levers for accelerating housing delivery is access to land. Public lands represent a tremendous opportunity, but they need to be prepared for development. This means ensuring proper servicing (water, sewer, transit connections) and clear zoning ahead of time, so builders can start construction without delay.
By taking a proactive approach to land readiness, the government can reduce the early-stage hurdles that often slow projects for years. Developers can then focus on designing and building homes, rather than navigating administrative or infrastructure bottlenecks.
Streamlining Approvals
BCH’s commitment to “cutting municipal development charges in half for multi-unit residential housing” is a step in the right direction, but it won’t be enough on its own. Municipal systems require a significant overhaul to ensure alignment with provincial policy.
High-rise condo projects in particular require navigating complex zoning, infrastructure planning, and public consultation processes. If municipal systems remain outdated, under-resourced, or poorly aligned with provincial reforms, developers will continue to face significant project delays.
Put simply, federal programs cannot succeed without municipal preparedness. Municipalities require digital permitting systems, adequate staff capacity, and streamlined approval processes that reflect the realities of urban high-rise construction. The federal government can empower builders by removing unnecessary bottlenecks because we need more homes, faster, not another layer of bureaucracy to navigate.
Flexible Financing is Crucial
In today’s climate, access to capital remains a key barrier, particularly for large-scale condo and mixed-use developments that carry significant upfront costs. Land prices, construction costs, development fees, and increasingly strict pre-construction requirements are squeezing developers on all sides. This is especially true for complex high-rise projects that combine residential, commercial, or affordable units in a single development.
We need more flexible lending rules and government-backed financing tools to give developers certainty moving forward. High-rise developers assume significant upfront financial risk, covering land acquisition, construction costs, and pre-sales exposure long before a single unit is complete. By offering this support, the federal government can empower builders to move faster and tackle the housing crisis head-on.
Implementation Needs To Be Fast-Tracked
While thoughtful planning and stakeholder engagement are essential, good policy delayed is good policy wasted. The housing crisis is real, and every year of delay puts projects out of reach for Canadians. BCH must avoid adding unnecessary administrative layers that slow builders down. Clear timelines, transparent communication, and fast rollout mechanisms are essential.
As developers, we support the vision, the urgency, and the intention of BCH. But good intentions must be matched with sound strategy and collaboration. We are ready to work alongside the government to make BCH not just a plan, but a success story—one where private and public sectors work together, municipalities are prepared, zoning is modernized, financing is flexible, and timelines are respected.
The opportunity is in front of us. Let’s get it right, and let’s get building.