Eliminating interprovincial trade barriers would add 30,000 annual housing starts: CMHC

Canada’s National Housing Agency says eliminating interprovincial trade barriers could lead to 30,000 more new homes being built in Canada each year.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said in a report Thursday that this would bring the total number of annual housing starts to nearly 280,000, a meaningful step toward addressing Canada’s housing supply gap.

To achieve this goal, Canada will need to reduce provincial barriers that hinder transportation infrastructure from west to east, said CMHC chief economist Matthew LeBridge.

The agency said this would help maximize the use of domestically available materials. LeBridge said the move would boost the economy and, as a result, benefit housing construction.