The Pembina Institute supports the Government of Canada establishment Build Canada Homes to build affordable housing and leverage the market to catalyze a modern homebuilding industry in Canada.
Key Recommendations
Affordability
An affordable home is one that is both affordable to access and to operate.
Efficiency First
Design and construction requirements take an “efficiency first” approach, using building codes and standards and integrated project delivery to ensure equipment and building practices deliver effective building performance and low operating costs.
Resilient Design
Incorporate building resiliency into design and construction to address risk associated with increasing extreme weather events and protect investments.
Existing Housing
Incorporate existing housing into the mandate of Build Canada Homes.
Market Stability
Creating market demand builds supply chains that serve Canadians and opens new markets globally, while boom and bust cycles threaten investments, harm workers, and result in stagnate industries.
Made-in-Canada Solutions
Incorporate made-in-Canada supplies that can also advance the retrofit market, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning and air quality equipment and systems, prefabrication panels, insulation, and high efficiency windows.
Workforce Development
Support long-term industrial strategy with investments in workforce development.
Background
Report: Valuing Deep Retrofits: How better residential buildings can lower healthcare costs in Alberta
Report: Preparing Alberta's Buildings for Severe Weather
Blog: Why Alberta needs resilient retrofits now
Report: Affordable Home Energy for All
Report: Healthy Buildings in a Changing Climate: Improving health with multi-unit residential building retrofits
Report: Canada’s Renovation Wave: A plan for jobs and climate
