Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced his new cabinet, and it contains some people with important policies, plans and ideas – especially for housing – including a member from BC. Back on the campaign trail, Carney set out a series of housing policies he had planned for the Federal Liberal Party to implement if elected. Now that they are in power, let’s take another look at these policies and how Carney’s pick for housing minister stacks up against them.
Former Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, now MP for Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby, has been named as the new Federal Minister of Housing. During his time as Mayor, Robertson had two major housing-related goals: ending street homelessness and addressing affordability. During his tenure, however, detached home prices increased to a median value of over $1 million, and street homelessness is still present today.
According to Robertson, this was because he received insufficient support from the Federal and Provincial governments back in 2008. This time, “What’s different now is that we’ve got a prime minister and a new government here in Ottawa who are saying we need to double the rate of construction, we need to work across all levels of government, we need to engage the private sector to do this,” he says. “We didn't have any of that going back to 2008.” Robertson has also said that the best way to tackle the housing crisis is to increase supply.
As for engaging the private sector and increasing the rate of construction, Robertson could be referring to Carney’s plan to create a Federal entity to build homes, called Build Canada Homes (BCH). The goal is to build affordable homes, including on public land, stimulate the new homes industry and provide financing to home builders of affordable housing.
Because Robertson is also Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, he may have some influence on how the Prime Minister handles economic development tied to housing in BC as well.
On the other hand, Robertson’s detractors call out his record as Vancouver Mayor. “He increased housing taxes in Vancouver by 141%, and the result was that housing costs went up by 149%,” says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. “Now Mr. Carney puts this gentleman in charge of housing. If this is the new blood that Mr. Carney is bringing into the cabinet, then sadly for Canadians, nothing is going to change.”
King Charles III’s Throne Speech backs up some of the announced plans.
During his 27 May 2025 Throne Speech, King Charles III outlined the actions and policies the Canadian Government plans to take during the upcoming 45 Parliament. Part of the speech contained mentions of the Government’s plans for housing. Let’s take a closer look at the mentions and how they align with what the Federal Liberal Party has set forth so far.
King Charles III mentioned the GST cut on new homes less than $1 million for first-time buyers, which was the same policy Prime Minister Carney announced back during his time on the campaign trail. King Charles III also said that the Government will “lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million,” which expands on this slightly. The speech did not contain an exact number tied to how much the tax will be lowered on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.
The throne speech also addressed plans to speed up home construction, mirroring the policies Carney announced during his campaign. “The Government will introduce measures to deliver affordable homes by creating Build Canada Homes,” King Charles III said. He also remarked that the Government will invest in prefabricated and modular housing, another portion of the Liberal Party’s housing plans.
King Charles III echoed the affordable housing plans the Liberal Party has outlined so far, too, stating that the Government “will provide significant financing to affordable home builders. The Government will make the housing market work better, including by cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing. The Government will drive supply up to bring housing costs down.”
It remains to be seen what the actual numbers and budgets are behind the Federal Liberal Party’s ideas and plans. The party aims to have a budget tabled by this fall with more details.
by Zak Khan Date: May 27, 2025
source: rew.ca
link: https://www.rew.ca/guide/articles/what-carney-new-cabinet-pick-for-housing-means-for-real-estate
