The Canadian government is looking for input on how to scale up the pace and quantity of new housing production. Stakeholders in the construction, building products/materials and finance sectors will be involved in a series of roundtable discussions, while the general public is invited to respond to a discussion paper outlining the merits of innovative technologies, materials and assembly practices, and potential avenues for financing wider uptake of innovation.

A five-member panel has been appointed to support the consultation. They include: Isabelle Demers, vice-president, Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec; Emma Kozak, vice-president of real estate lending, Royal Bank of Canada; Kevin Lee, chief executive officer, Canadian Home Builders’ Association; Bryce Nugent, director, Modular Housing Association Prairie Provinces; and Carolyn Whitzman, adjunct professor, University of Ottawa.

The exercise is framed as an effort to develop an “industrial strategy for homebuilding”. That’s a term to describe more systematic production, delivery and assembly of housing components versus the current approach, which predominantly relies on builders crafting most structural elements on-site.

The discussion paper highlights possibilities for prefabrication, modular components, time and labour-saving digital design processes and mass timber production that could anchor the supply chain in Canada. As well, respondents are asked to weigh in on potential financing models and/or barriers that are currently impeding access to capital.

Comments will be accepted until September 13th.