Everyone needs a place to call home top priority at CREA PAC Days
At a glance (2 minute read)
- Lack of affordable market housing was a top concern at the Canadian Real Estate Association's (CREA) PAC Days conference in October 2023.
- CREA proposed three recommendations, including the creation of a permanent national housing roundtable for collaboration and policy coordination, leveraging federal infrastructure funding to increase housing supply, and developing a housing workforce immigration strategy.
- These recommendations aim to address housing challenges and strengthen Canadians' ability to buy, own, and sell real property.
The ongoing lack of affordable market housing topped the list of concerns at the Canadian Real Estate Association's (CREA) 38th annual Political Action Committee (PAC) Days conference in Ottawa, October 14-17, 2023.
Representatives from your Board were there to talk to MPs about solutions and three recommendations drafted by CREA with input from your Board.
CREA represents 160,000 REALTORS® from 72 boards and associations across Canada and advocates for federal policies that strengthen Canadians ability to buy, own, and sell real property.
Recommendations
1. National housing roundtable
Recommendation: create a permanent national housing roundtable
To increase supply, CREA recommends the federal government establish a permanent national housing roundtable, bringing together federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal government representatives, builders, real estate professionals, and stakeholder organizations, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and policy coordination.
2. Housing supply and infrastructure
Recommendation: leverage federal infrastructure funding with municipal, provincial, and territorial partners that require the creation of more housing supply
New federal infrastructure funding must:
- require new housing indexed to population growth and incentivize provinces, territories, and municipalities to revise zoning bylaws;
- speed up planning and approval processes;
- convert distressed properties into housing;
- align infrastructure funding with new housing commitments; and
- promote construction innovation.
3. Immigration and housing
Recommendation: develop a housing workforce immigration strategy
Canada needs to attract tradespeople from abroad, while streamlining the immigration process for qualified professionals willing to work in the construction industry.
Read CREA’s PAC Days booklet (opens 18-page pdf).
If you have questions about CREA’s PAC Days, contact Harriet Permut, director of government relations at hpermut@rebgv.org.
PAC Days in pictures
