Canadians Want Housing Policy Reform, Highlighting the Need for Faster Development and Innovative Financing
Between November 6 and 18, Abacus Data conducted a national survey of 4,001 Canadian adults (18+) to explore public perceptions of the housing market. Commissioned by Mattamy Homes Canada, this study looks at how Canadians feel about housing affordability, accessibility, and the role of governments, developers, and other stakeholders in addressing the crisis.
The findings reveal widespread concern: a significant majority of Canadians believe homeownership is becoming increasingly unattainable, housing affordability is worsening, and the pace of new development is too slow to meet demand. While many point to government inaction as a primary barrier, there is also strong support for innovative financing solutions and regulatory reforms to speed up construction.
As attention shifts to other economic issues, Canadians are clear – housing must stay a top priority in the federal election. Canadians want urgent action to increase supply, improve affordability, and cut barriers to progress.
Housing Market Concerns and Affordability
Concerns about housing in Canada are loud and growing. Nine in ten Canadians (88%) are worried about affordability, especially those aged 30 to 44 (92%), 45 to 59 (91%), renters (93%), and urban residents (91%).
These worries extend beyond general sentiment to more specific, lived challenges: 74% say housing in their area is unaffordable, 70% report limited availability, and 89% believe homeownership is becoming increasingly out of reach.
The message is clear – without decisive action from policymakers, affordability will continue to decline, leaving more Canadians struggling to find stable, secure housing.
Who is Responsible for the Housing Crisis?
Frustration with government efforts to address the housing crisis is high across all levels. Seven in ten Canadians (70%) believe the federal government is not doing enough to improve the situation, while two-thirds (66%) feel the same about their provincial government. Although slightly lower, a majority (61%) also believe their municipal government is falling short.
Despite growing concerns, Canadians agree that government must take the lead on housing. Most hold all levels of government accountable, with 64% pointing to the federal government and 51% to provincial governments.
There is strong support for government intervention: 65% back active involvement – 34% want full government responsibility with major investments, while 31% prefer a public-private partnership. At the same time, Canadians acknowledge the important role of builders and developers (70%) and believe stronger incentives are needed to prioritize affordability (67%).
Together, these findings reflect a clear demand for leadership, accountability, and action. Canadians expect governments at all levels to step up with bold policies and meaningful investments, while also working with industry to deliver more – and more affordable – housing.
Homebuilders and Developers: The Role in Increasing Supply
Canadians see homebuilders and developers as key to solving the housing crisis but believe government policies often stand in the way. Three in four (72%) say regulations slow down housing projects, and the same proportion point to high development fees and taxes as major cost drivers. In addition to this, 71% believe current government policies are out of step with housing demand and no longer reflect the realities of today’s housing market.
There is strong support for policy changes to remove these roadblocks and accelerate construction. Nearly 72% believe faster approvals are necessary to meet demand, while the same proportion point to development fees and taxes as key contributors to higher home prices. Red tape (71%) and restrictive zoning (65%) are also seen as major obstacles.
Many Canadians also support policies that accelerate development, including reducing development fees (42%), streamlining approval processes (41%), and offering tax breaks or subsidies to encourage new projects (37%).
For Canada to meet its housing needs, governments must work collaboratively with industry to remove barriers and speed up development. Creating a more efficient approval process and incentivizing new construction will help boost supply and improve affordability.
Canadians Want Bold Policies and Innovative Financing Solutions
Canadians strongly back bold, practical solutions to tackle the housing crisis – particularly those that make homeownership more attainable and which help bring down monthly costs. Seven in ten (70%) support promoting rent-to-own models to help renters transition into ownership, while 64% favour expanding access to 30-year mortgages to lower monthly payments. A majority also support reinvesting HST revenues from new home sales into housing infrastructure (61%) and allowing homebuilders to offer temporary mortgage rate buy-downs to ease costs for new buyers (56%). Together, these measures reflect a growing appetite for innovative, flexible policies that reduce barriers to ownership and create a more accessible path to homeownership for Canadians.
At the time of the survey, awareness of existing government housing support was limited – only 24% of Canadians were familiar with the federal New Housing Rebate Program. However, 60% believe the program should be updated to better reflect the realities of today’s housing costs.
Support is also growing for zoning and density reform. More than half (55%) believe higher-density developments can help ease housing shortages, and 50% support removing zoning restrictions to allow for greater density without drawn-out rezoning processes. Opposition to these changes remains limited, with just 14% opposed.
Ultimately, Canadians are calling for long-term, forward-thinking solutions that reduce affordability pressures and boost supply. Addressing financing barriers, modernizing zoning rules, and streamlining approvals are seen as critical steps toward a more responsive and inclusive housing market.
The Upshot
As attention shifts to economic issues like trade and tariffs, Canadians remain clear: housing must remain front and centre in this election. Widespread concern over affordability and access to homeownership continues to dominate public sentiment, with many feeling that the dream of owning a home is slipping further out of reach. While political focus may waver, the urgency to act on housing cannot. With housing affordability at crisis levels, Canadians are calling for swift, meaningful action to boost supply, lower costs, and remove policy barriers.
The path forward is clear. Canadians want to see homes built faster, red tape cut, and financing tools introduced that make homeownership more accessible. They also expect a skilled workforce capable of meeting demand.
- Speed matters. Canadians overwhelmingly support accelerating construction by streamlining approval processes, reducing development fees, and eliminating unnecessary delays. Without urgent action, frustration with government inaction will only intensify.
- Affordability is critical. With housing costs far outpacing incomes, many Canadians are open to creative solutions like longer mortgage terms, rent-to-own programs, and shared equity models to ease the financial burden and increase access to stable housing.
The debate should no longer about who is to blame, but who will lead. Housing has taken centre stage on the campaign trail this week, with parties unveiling a range of policies and proposals. While these announcements are a positive first step, real progress will be measured by how effectively these promises are delivered after the April 28th election.
Canadians are clear about what’s needed: accelerate construction, eliminate barriers, and introduce innovative pathways to homeownership. The pressure is building, and public expectations are high. Housing must stay at the forefront – it’s not just an election issue, it’s a national priority.
Methodology
The survey was conducted with 4,001 Canadian adults from November 6 to 18, 2024. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source.
The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 1.55%, 19 times out of 20.
The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region.
This survey was paid for by Mattamy Homes.
Abacus Data follows the CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements that can be found here: https://canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/
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