Housing plans made by the federal Liberal government were not well-received overall, but the Canadian Home Builders' Association gave positive reviews. Kevin Lee, CEO of CHBA, stated that the plan will help make houses more affordable. He also pointed out its positive impacts on public transit and municipal infrastructure.
The housing plans, according to Lee, will result in investment of up to 50 percent of capital costs for public transit. He said that this was critical to housing affordability under the average one-third from every level of government statistics. He also pointed out that this was an increasing share of the municipal budget that will likely come from increasing development taxes on new homeowners.
Lee suggested that the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund should be utilized to help limit cost pressures on new residential projects, according to a report from the Calgary Sun.
Jane Morgan, CHBA president stated that improving the energy and water utility's efficiency for Canada's stock on social housing meant long-term positive impacts on the environment, society, social housing companies and residents.
Morgan, who was also a developer from St. John's, NL, said that Canada's housing market was a climate change leader. Half of Canada's housing share was completed before 1985. That half used twice as much power as the ones built since 1985. There was a major opportunity to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve the economy through energy-efficient remodelling on older houses in Canada. Morgan said that taking action on retrofitting the major housing stock was an important point in that endeavour.
The housing plans were also positively received by Dr. Sherry Cooper, chief economist for Dominion Lending Centres. She said that the plan expressed concern about cheaper housing by investing $2.3 billion for social structures in communities where they were most needed. Cooper also said that the plan focused on stable and secure housing markets that protected the greatest investment of middle class Canadian families, according to a report from Saultstar.com.
