Policy Theme
Housing Affordability
18-Month Baseline
Rent, mortgage pressure, commute times, and whether younger Canadians can stay near family. Canada continues to face a persistent affordable housing shortage, with rising prices and rental costs outpacing income growth. Recent parliamentary debates and provincial initiatives signal intensifying efforts to reform housing policies, including zoning laws and federal funding for affordable housing projects. A recurring policy question is the effectiveness of focusing on 'missing middle' housing types in resolving the crisis..
Current Signal
No recent source set cleared the evidence threshold in this run.
Current Brief
In 2025, Canada saw improvements in housing supply due to record rental construction and more "missing middle" housing, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) [^1]. Despite these gains, housing affordability remains a significant issue across the country. The CMHC reports that the affordability crisis has spread to cities like Ottawa, indicating ongoing challenges despite some progress [^2]. These issues reflect broader national trends, although specific impacts may vary by region. Context note: Some cited reporting is regional (ontario). For this national topic, treat local events as signals and confirm whether patterns hold across provinces and territories.
Why it matters
Rent, mortgage pressure, commute times, and whether younger Canadians can stay near family.
What to watch
- Rent growth, vacancy rates, and housing starts.
- Mortgage renewal pressure and arrears.
- Zoning approvals, permitting times, and completions.
- Whether more supply appears where demand is strongest.
Affected groups