While U.S. trade conflict and economic stability have dominated this election campaign, housing and health care are still high on the agenda
In just a few days, Canadians will head to the polls to vote in the 45th federal general election. Once again, housing has proven to be a top priority for voters.
According to a recent Royal LePage® survey, conducted by Burson,1 more than half (55%) of Canadian adults say that a party or candidate’s positioning on policies related to housing will influence their vote in the upcoming federal election; 39 per cent say it will not. When broken out by age, younger Canadians are more likely to be focused on housing. Seventy-two per cent of generation Z respondents (aged 18-28) and 59 per cent of millennials (aged 29-44) say that a party or candidate’s positioning on housing will have an impact on their vote, higher than those in generation X (50% of those aged 45-60) and baby boomers (48% of those aged 61-87).
“While much of the discussion has been centered on navigating the rough waters of the U.S. trade conflict, housing affordability has re-emerged as a major priority this election cycle,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage. “Initiatives that support young families and first-time buyers, especially in high-cost markets, have been proposed across the political spectrum, whether by easing the path for developers to build more homes or offering financial relief to buyers. But, tackling Canada’s chronic supply shortage will take more than short-term solutions. Despite recent market shifts – including lower interest rates and increased inventory – many young voters recognize that these changes alone are not enough. They are seeking real, lasting solutions that can turn the dream of home ownership into a reality.”
Housing ranks third among most important election priorities
In an unprecedented era of international trade conflict and economic turmoil, Canadians are largely focusing their attention on the political party that can best guide the country through the uncertainty. However, housing is also top of mind for many voters.
When asked to identify the most important issues they want to see prioritized in the April 28th federal election, 86 per cent of respondents selected the economy and cost of living as one of their top five priorities; more than a third (36%) selected it as their most important priority. Other top priorities include health care (75%), housing (62%), government spending and taxes (56%), international trade (42%) and immigration (35%). Respondents selected and ranked their top five priorities.
Overall, housing ranks as the third most important election priority among Canadian voters, after the economy and health care. Across the country, the same is true in most provinces, with the exception of the Prairies. In Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, housing ranks fourth, behind government spending and taxes. In Vancouver, the nation’s most expensive city, housing ranks as the second most important priority this election, above health care.
“More than ever, voters are looking for leadership that can offer stability, protect Canada’s economic interests, and steer the country through turbulent times. For young Canadians in particular, there is a clear demand for a leader who can support their goal of achieving home ownership,” said Soper. “The next federal government must follow through on its promises and act decisively to ensure that more housing gets built – quickly and at scale. Real progress will require bold, coordinated action and long-term planning from all levels of government.”
Parties offer their solutions to the housing crisis
With housing top of mind for many voters, party candidates have put forward platform policies to improve housing affordability, boost supply and cut red tape for new development.
The Liberal Party says it plans to double the pace of residential construction over the next decade as part of its long-term strategy to address the housing crisis. They plan to achieve this by providing low-cost financing options to developers focused on building affordable housing, encouraging the use of a prefabrication Housing Design Catalogue to speed up construction timelines and reduce costs, and eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers on properties valued up to $1 million.
The Conservative Party wants to build 2.3 million homes over the next five years, which they plan to achieve by cutting development taxes and incentivizing municipalities to build more homes. A key part of their plan is to convert at least 15 per cent of federal buildings into residential units, repurposing underused government properties to ease housing shortages. The Conservatives also plan to defer the capital gains tax for individuals who reinvest profits into Canadian businesses, and eliminate the GST on all new rental housing and home sales priced up to $1.3 million.The New Democratic Party (NDP) aims to double Canada’s current rate of homebuilding with a focus on public investment. The party plans to offer first-time homebuyers long-term, low-interest, government-backed mortgages in an effort to lower the barrier to entry. Additionally, the NDP is calling for a ban on corporate purchases of affordable rental housing, arguing that such acquisitions often lead to rent increases and displacement, and instead wants to ensure housing remains accessible to low- and middle-income Canadians.
The Bloc Québécois supports the unconditional transfer of federal housing funds to the province of Quebec. The party wants to crack down on real estate flipping, offer direct federal financial assistance for first-time buyers’ down payments, eliminate the GST on certain professional services related to a home purchase, and support housing initiatives for students and seniors. The party is also calling for increased federal funding to address homelessness.
The Green Party says it will implement stricter regulations to prevent corporate exploitation of the housing market, such as stopping corporations from buying single-family homes and eliminating tax advantages for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). The party also pledges to launch the largest public housing construction program since the 1970s, using Canadian materials and labour, and ensuring publicly-funded homes remain permanently affordable.
You can read about each major political party’s full election platform here: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Bloc Québécois, Green Party.
Canadians head to the polls on Monday, April 28th. To learn more about how and where to vote, visit elections.ca.
1Burson used the Leger Opinion online panel to survey 2,417 Canadians, aged 18+ between April 2, 2025 and April 9, 2025. No margin of error can be associated with a non-probability sample (i.e., a web panel in this case). For comparative purposes, a probability sample of 2,417 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2%, 19 times out of 20.