Canada must build homes that are clean, comfortable and meet the needs of Canadians

TORONTO — Clean Energy Canada’s Ollie Sheldrick-Moyle made the following statement in response to the Government of Canada’s announcement regarding the launch of the new federal agency Build Canada Homes:

“This government is hoping Build Canada Homes (BCH) can both increase housing starts while building an ‘entirely new housing industry.’ If this is the goal, there must be a clear focus on building homes that are affordable to live in as well as build, use low-carbon Canadian materials, are EV-ready, and keep families comfortable in Canada’s rapidly changing climate.

“Build Canada Homes intends to build affordable housing for Canadian families, but affordability should be understood broadly and over the long term. New homes should help families unlock cost savings from clean energy, for example by making all new homes EV-ready, so that families can plug in their cars and save on transportation costs. 

“Homes built with the help of this new federal agency should also be resilient and safe. With increasingly hot summers throughout the country, cooling is a necessity for new homes in most parts of the country. The government should lead by example by equipping all new BCH-supported homes with a heat pump (instead of a one-way air conditioning system), providing affordable cooling and heating.  

“It is encouraging to see BCH leveraged to support Canadian material producers in sectors like lumber and steel, but there is a clear opportunity to go further and support the long-term competitiveness of these sectors through the prioritization of lower-carbon building materials. 

“Aligning BCH with existing greening government procurement standards can both support domestic industry while also providing a clear market signal that incentivizes low-carbon investments and innovation.

“In developing the investment criteria for BCH over the coming months, the federal government should consider how these homes can be built to be safe, comfortable, and affordable in the long run, and in a manner that also supports Canada’s clean material industries.”