As the Canadian housing market continues to present unprecedented challenges, with individuals and families from coast-to-coast struggling to secure a place to call home, REALTORS® stand at the forefront, playing an indispensable role in actively addressing the country’s multifaceted housing crisis. Their unique vantage point, derived from daily interactions within local communities and direct exposure to market realities, positions them as key advocates for tangible, impactful change. Experiencing firsthand the complexities of buying, selling, and renting, REALTORS® are uniquely positioned to understand the systemic issues contributing to housing affordability and supply shortages.
For close to four decades, REALTORS® have consistently championed the interests of Canadian homeowners, prospective buyers, sellers, and renters at the federal level. This enduring commitment manifests through persistent advocacy, pushing for comprehensive strategies that aim to alleviate housing pressures. Key initiatives have included vigorous calls for increased social housing, expanding subsidized housing options for vulnerable populations, and bolstering emergency shelter capacity – all fundamental steps towards ensuring every Canadian has access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. Their advocacy extends beyond transactional services, embracing a broader responsibility for community well-being and economic stability.
CREA PAC Days: A Cornerstone of Housing Advocacy
A pivotal element of these sustained advocacy efforts is the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)’s annual Political Action Committee (PAC) Days. This significant event serves as a crucial platform where REALTORS® from diverse regions across Canada converge on the nation’s capital, Parliament Hill. Their mission: to engage directly with Members of Parliament (MPs) and present innovative, well-researched housing solutions designed to benefit the entire housing continuum – from transitional housing and rental units to diverse homeownership options – and, critically, to accelerate housing supply development nationwide. This direct dialogue is essential for bridging the gap between policy-makers and the on-the-ground realities of the housing market.
The urgency and scale of this year’s PAC Days underscored the escalating nature of the housing crisis. From October 15 to 17, 2023, an impressive contingent of over 420 PAC representatives made their presence felt across Parliament Hill. This robust participation translated into more than 140 high-impact meetings with their local MPs and other key political stakeholders. These direct interactions are invaluable, allowing REALTORS® to convey the lived experiences of their clients and communities, articulate the complexities of the market, and present evidence-based policy recommendations firsthand. Such an intensive schedule demonstrates the collective resolve and strategic focus of the Canadian real estate community.
Beyond the vital one-on-one engagements, this year’s PAC Days programming was thoughtfully curated to foster deeper understanding and broader dialogue. The agenda featured:
- Engaging panel discussions featuring esteemed Members of Parliament, seasoned journalists, and influential political insiders, offering diverse perspectives on policy challenges and opportunities within the housing sector.
- Exclusive presentations of the latest insights from leading pollsters, providing a data-driven understanding of public opinion and political landscapes concerning housing, informing advocacy strategies with current societal sentiments.
- Lively and constructive discussions focused on critical themes such as sustainable housing development, technological innovation within the real estate sector, and environmental considerations in urban planning, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to housing.
- Keynote addresses from prominent political figures, including Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, and Pierre Poilievre, the esteemed Leader of the Official Opposition. Their participation highlighted the cross-partisan recognition of the housing crisis as a national imperative and the need for collaborative, comprehensive solutions from all political fronts.
The Urgency of Canada’s Housing Supply Gap
CREA firmly believes that addressing the housing crisis must transcend political divides and be designated a paramount priority for all political parties across the spectrum. The scale of the challenge is stark: the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) estimates that an astounding 5.8 million new homes are needed across the entire housing continuum by 2030 to restore affordability and balance to the market. This includes everything from emergency shelters and supportive housing to rental units and diverse homeownership options, catering to all segments of the Canadian population.
However, current construction rates paint a concerning picture. At the present pace, Canada is projected to face a critical shortfall of 3.5 million homes by 2030. This deficit has profound socio-economic implications, contributing to escalating housing costs, increased homelessness, reduced labour mobility, and a hindered national economy. The lack of affordable housing can deter skilled workers from moving to economically vibrant regions, impact mental health, and exacerbate social inequality. CREA remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring all Canadians have equitable access to housing and continues to dedicate its efforts to championing innovative, practical, and implementable solutions that can close this critical supply gap, thereby fostering stronger communities and a more robust economy.
REALTOR® Recommendations: A Three-Pillar Strategy for National Housing
During CREA PAC Days 2023, PAC representatives presented three strategic recommendations to the federal government, each designed to tackle distinct yet interconnected facets of the housing crisis. These recommendations reflect extensive consultation and analysis, aiming for systemic and sustainable change.
Recommendation 1: Establish a Permanent National Housing Roundtable
The first and foundational recommendation calls for the establishment of a permanent national housing roundtable. This crucial body would serve as an ongoing, high-level forum bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders. This includes representatives from federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal authorities, alongside industry leaders such as builders, developers, and real estate professionals. Critically, it would also incorporate the invaluable perspectives of Indigenous partners and civil society organizations, ensuring that the dialogue is truly representative and addresses the unique needs of all communities.
The overarching purpose of this roundtable is to foster an inclusive, holistic, and coordinated approach to addressing the housing crisis. By regularly convening these key players, it aims to dismantle jurisdictional silos, facilitate cross-governmental policy alignment, and harness collective expertise to drive innovation. Such a collaborative platform would enable shared problem-solving, identify best practices, and ensure that policies are developed with a comprehensive understanding of the crisis’s complexities and regional variations. Canada’s housing crisis is not merely a sectoral issue; it is a profound national priority impacting individuals, families, the overall economy, and the very social fabric of the country. A permanent roundtable signifies a long-term commitment to strategic and integrated action, moving beyond temporary measures to create lasting solutions.
Recommendation 2: Link Housing Supply to Infrastructure Funding
International research consistently demonstrates that robust and well-planned infrastructure is integral to the development of thriving, inclusive, and sustainable communities. It also highlights how strategic infrastructure investment can directly mitigate housing shortages. Building on this understanding, the second recommendation proposes a vital condition for any new federal infrastructure funding allocated to municipalities, provinces, and territories: that such funding must explicitly require and incentivize the creation of new housing units, indexed to population growth.
This condition ensures that as communities expand and receive federal support for essential services like transit networks, water treatment facilities, sanitation systems, schools, and hospitals, they are simultaneously compelled and empowered to increase their housing supply in a commensurate manner. Indexing housing creation to population growth is a forward-thinking measure designed to prevent future housing shortfalls by proactively planning for demand. This strategic linkage would encourage municipal planners to adopt growth-oriented policies, streamline development approvals, and overcome bureaucratic hurdles that often impede housing construction, ultimately accelerating the delivery of much-needed homes and fostering balanced urban development. It represents a shift towards integrated planning where housing and infrastructure are developed synergistically.
Recommendation 3: Develop a Housing Workforce Immigration Strategy
The Canadian construction industry is currently grappling with acute labour shortages, a significant bottleneck that directly hinders the pace and scale of housing development. Without sufficient skilled tradespeople, construction projects face delays, increased costs, and an inability to meet the urgent demand for new homes. Recognizing this critical challenge, the third recommendation advocates for the urgent development of a comprehensive housing workforce immigration strategy. This strategy is multi-faceted, aiming to proactively attract skilled tradespeople from abroad – including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, heavy equipment operators, and other essential construction workers – who are vital to building more homes.
Concurrently, it seeks to streamline the immigration process for qualified professionals who possess the skills and willingness to contribute to Canada’s construction sector. This includes reducing processing times, recognizing foreign credentials more efficiently, and providing pathways to permanent residency. To bolster this recommendation with robust data, CREA, in partnership with the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) and the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), recently commissioned new research. This study specifically highlighted the potent role immigration can play in addressing the labour shortages plaguing Canada’s construction sector. The lead researcher from The Conference Board of Canada presented her compelling findings during PAC Days, underscoring the feasibility and benefits of such a targeted immigration strategy for both the housing market and the national economy.
Impact and Alignment: From Advocacy to Government Action
The proactive advocacy efforts during CREA PAC Days have already begun to yield tangible results and align with emerging government priorities, demonstrating the direct impact of REALTORS®’ collective voice. In the immediate aftermath of PAC Days, the Honourable Marc Miller, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced an updated immigration system. This update specifically included a focus on attracting more skilled construction workers from overseas, directly echoing CREA’s third recommendation and recognizing the crucial role these professionals play in building more housing across the country. This swift response highlights the resonance of REALTORS®’ concerns with federal policy direction.
Further reinforcing this alignment, the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, tabled by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, underscored the government’s profound commitment to addressing the housing crisis. The statement directly incorporated several key recommendations championed by CREA. For instance, it highlighted the government’s intention to tie federal funding for infrastructure projects to the creation of more homes, directly reflecting CREA’s second recommendation for linking infrastructure and housing supply. It also prioritized permanent residency for construction workers from abroad with critical skills, aligning perfectly with the proposed housing workforce immigration strategy, recognizing their indispensable contribution.
Significantly, the Fall Economic Statement also introduced a new Canadian Mortgage Charter. This charter incorporates a long-held REALTOR® position advocating against the requirement for insured mortgage holders to requalify under the insured minimum qualifying rate when switching lenders at mortgage renewal. This policy change, which CREA has vigorously supported, provides greater flexibility and financial stability for homeowners, preventing unnecessary stress, potential penalties, and reducing barriers to seeking better mortgage terms during the renewal process. This demonstrates a direct response to a specific pain point identified and championed by the real estate community.
The Unified Voice of Canadian REALTORS®
As part of one of Canada’s largest single-industry organizations, comprising more than 160,000 dedicated professionals, the unified and collective voice of REALTORS® is undeniably strong, influential, and impactful. This powerful collective is committed to advocating for a legislative and regulatory environment that not only enables REALTORS® to provide exceptional service but also genuinely empowers them to better serve Canadian homeowners, aspiring homeowners, renters, and communities across Canada. Their ongoing efforts underscore a deep commitment to not just facilitating transactions, but to actively shaping a housing landscape that is equitable, accessible, and sustainable for all.
Learn more about how CREA tirelessly advocates for a robust and responsive housing market, and for policies that benefit all Canadians, by visiting CREA.ca/advocacy. Join us in building a better, more housed Canada.
Image: Members of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington meet with The Honourable Karina Gould, Member of Parliament of Burlington, during CREA PAC Days 2023.
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