Canada’s housing market is in critical need of action. While the Liberal government’s housing platform acknowledges the urgency, developers and industry professionals are still facing immense challenges on the ground – particularly in the pre-construction space.

We’re seeing encouraging signs. Ontario’s Protecting Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 includes the long-overdue standardization of development charges. This move could bring consistency to a cost structure that has made it nearly impossible to budget or plan effectively. Pair this with Ontario’s 2025 budget, which earmarks millions for modular housing and billions for housing-enabling infrastructure, and we start to see some foundation for meaningful progress.

However, the gap between announcements and implementation remains wide. In pre-construction, timing is everything. Projects take years from planning to occupancy, and every delay, from zoning to servicing, adds cost and risk. Developers want to build, but high interest rates, fluctuating materials costs and policy uncertainty make launching new projects risky.

Meanwhile, the federal cap on international students is doing more harm than good. While well-intentioned, the ban cuts off a population that not only supports the rental market but also drives long-term housing demand. Schools, builders and communities are feeling the impact. We need better regulation, not elimination. If we want a robust housing market, we can’t limit the very people who fuel it.

So, what will move the needle?

1. Faster approvals and more predictable planning timelines.

2. Access to better financing options for both builders and buyers.

3. Support for innovation, such as modular construction and adaptive reuse.

4. Reversal or rethinking of the student ban with more targeted oversight.

5. True collaboration between all levels of government and industry.

On the buyer side, we need lower interest rates, relief from the rigid mortgage stress test, longer amortization periods and smaller guaranteed deposits, especially for first-time and new Canadians trying to enter the market.

Pre-construction isn’t just about putting up buildings – it’s about delivering homes for the next generation. Government can’t just set housing targets; it must create the environment for builders to deliver. That means cutting red tape, investing in infrastructure and aligning on real timelines – not election cycles.

This market doesn’t need more headlines – it needs action, speed and stability. If governments truly want to build 3.9 million homes, they need to start by trusting and empowering the builders. We’re ready to go. Let’s create the conditions where we can move – not in five years, but now.

Because the longer we wait, the harder it will be to catch up.