Regardless of which political party wins the Canadian federal election on April 28, the new government will need to tackle one of the most important issues for Canadians: the cost of living. With 45% of Canadians saying they are very concerned with their ability to afford housing or rent, understanding each party’s housing platform is crucial. Here’s how each major party compares on the biggest housing topics:
Housing Affordability
The national average home price of $670,064 is out of reach for many Canadians. The six major political parties have all proposed policies to help make housing more affordable.
| Liberals | Create a new federal agency, “Build Canada Homes,” to build affordable housing at scale on public land.
Provide over $25 billion to innovative prefabricated home builders. Facilitate the conversion of existing structures into affordable housing units. |
| Conservatives | Remove the GST on new homes up to $1.3 million, which will spark the creation of 36,000 extra homes annually.
Incentivize municipalities to cut building charges; for every dollar cut, the Conservative government will match that amount up to $25,000 per home. Sell 15% of the federal government’s buildings to turn them into affordable housing. |
| New Democrats | Build 3 million new homes within the next five years, including non-market and affordable housing.
Freeze the increase on development charges and work with provinces to halve development charges that hold up construction. Support building pre-fabricated homes. |
| Bloc Québécois | Transfer $1.2 billion from the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to Quebec to support a new or existing program that better serves municipalities.
Urge the federal government to redefine “affordable housing” based on local market conditions to build truly affordable housing. Reduce flipping by forcing property owners to keep a place they buy for at least two years. |
| People’s Party | Substantially reduce or pause the number of new permanent residents, reducing demand for housing.
Reduce the Bank of Canada’s inflation target from 2% to 0%, cooling down inflation in all sectors. Privatize or dismantle the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). |
| Green | Build 250,000 affordable non-profit and co-op homes, plus 60,000 supportive homes with funding for mental health and addiction services.
Lease public land for free to nonprofits, co-ops, and land trusts to build permanently affordable housing. Eliminate unfair tax advantages and prevent corporations from buying up single family homes. |
Support for First-Time Buyers
With typically fewer financial resources than repeat buyers, first-time home buyers are particularly vulnerable in times of economic uncertainty. Certain parties have made promises that will directly affect first-time buyers, while others are aiming to lower costs for all buyers.
| Liberals | Build on the elimination of the GST for FTHB on homes at or under $1 million. |
| Conservatives | Remove the GST on new homes up to $1.3 million. |
| New Democrats | Offer FTHB access to low-interest, government-backed loans. Build rent-controlled homes on public land. |
| Bloc Québécois | Propose major federal assistanceto first-time home buyers of reasonable valueto help them finalize their down payment.
Abolish the GST for first-time buyers on related services like notaries, inspectors, and surveyors. |
| Green | Offer $25,000 zero-interest loans to help new homeowners pay down their mortgage.
Remove development charges for homes under 2,000 sq. ft. in urban areas and eliminate the Land Transfer Tax for first-time buyers. |
Increasing Housing Supply
Housing affordability is largely dependent on the number of homes available. The fewer homes there are, the more competition there is, which keeps prices elevated. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates Canada needs 3.5 million more homes by 2030. Each political party agrees that increasing the housing supply is necessary for improving affordability and offers a variety of solutions.
| Liberals | Double the pace of new housing construction over the next 10 years, building nearly 500,000 per year.
Grow the construction sector workforce by expanding training and apprenticeship programs. Reduce housing bureaucracy, zoning restrictions to accelerate construction. |
| Conservatives | Sell off 6,000 federal buildings and thousands of acres of federal land to build new homes.
Backing 350,000 positions for trade schools to train apprentices to build homes and bring back the $4,000 apprenticeship grant. Require municipalities to speed up permits and free up land to allow 15 per cent more home building per year. Allow anyone who reinvests in Canada to defer tax on capital gains to invest more in home building. |
| New Democrats | Set aside 100% of suitable federable crown land to build over 100,000 rent-controlled homes by 2035.
Speed up approvals on lands owned by the federal government. Train 100,000 more people in skilled trades to support building more homes. |
| Bloc Québécois | Substantially increase the proportion of non-market housing to 20%. |
| People’s Party | Restrict foreign non-resident buyers in Canada by working with provinces to curb speculation and money laundering.
Respect the local planning authority and oppose federal pressure on municipalities to increase housing density for immigration-driven growth. |
| Green | Build 2 million homes over the next 10 years, including missing middle and mid-rise housing.
Set province-wide design standards and remove restrictive rules like setbacks and floor space limits. Support small-scale builders with low-cost, long-term financing and legal help. |
Support for Renters
Asking rents in Canada have steadily climbed since 2020, causing increased financial strain for renters. In March 2025, the national average rent of $2,119 was 17.8% higher than in March 2020. Some parties have proposed targeted policies for renters, while others have focused their efforts more broadly on housing affordability.
| Liberals | Reintroduce the Multiple Unit Rental Building (MURB) cost allowance, encouraging and accelerating the development of multi-unit rentals.
Reduce tax liability for private owners of multi-purpose rentals who sell to non-profits to support the conversion of existing buildings into affordable housing. |
| New Democrats | Implement national rent control to stop predatory corporate landlords.
Ban fixed-term leases and rent-price fixing by corporate landlords. Introduce a Renter’s Bill of Rights. |
| Bloc Québécois | Call for unconditional federal funding for Quebec’s student housing initiatives to ease pressure on the rental market. |
| Green | Address and crack down on unfair loopholes that affect renters, such as above-guildeline rent increases (AGIs) and ‘renovictions’.
Reinstate rent and vacancy controls on all units to regulate annual increases. |
While this is not a comprehensive list of each party’s full housing platform, it highlights the key commitments related to affordability, supply, and support for renters and first-time buyers. As housing affordability remains a central issue in the lead-up to the federal election, staying informed on real estate market trends and party policy announcements will be essential for voters making informed decisions.
If you’re preparing to buy or sell, it’s important to speak with a local realtor to get specific information and guidance tailored to your area. If you’re ready, our qualified agents are here to help you! Give us a call today to get in touch with a real estate agent near you.
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