Your CEO, Jeff King, has joined the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Housing and Development Strategy Council, which plays a key role in shaping national housing policies that directly impact affordability and supply across Canada.

The Council convenes industry leaders to engage with federal decision makers to provide practical, front-line insight. Council members focus on solving barriers to homebuilding, from materials and permitting delays to labour shortages and financing challenges.

GVR was also recently invited to join the Canadian Chamber of Commerce — a national advocacy group, think tank, and partnership platform representing a broad cross-section of the Canadian economy.

With Jeff’s appointment, GVR members have a direct voice in federal conversations about the future of housing in Canada.

The Council is pushing forward on major priorities in 2025, including:

Unlocking capital

The Chamber estimates we need an additional 3.87 million new homes by 2031 to restore affordability, which will cost roughly $1 trillion. This is a cost the government can’t afford. To help the government unlock this investment, they advocate for:

• Expanding GST relief on purpose-built rental housing projects stalled by high interest rates
• Creating incentives like capital gains deferrals to encourage reinvestment in real estate
• Reducing permitting delays that add costs and slow housing starts

Building stronger partnerships

Canada’s economic future is counting on business and government working together in the shared pursuit of homes all Canadians can afford. Competing interests will lead to new initiatives being developed in silos and without the participation of those who build housing. To do this, the Chamber recommends:

• Encouraging public-private collaboration, not top-down decision-making
• Addressing chronic supply chain issues that raise costs and slow construction

Tackling the skilled labour shortage

According to Statistics Canada’s building construction price indexes, skilled labour shortages are first among key factors impacting the construction sector.

This challenge will only intensify over the coming decade as an increasing number of construction workers from the baby boom generation are expected to retire. Addressing skilled labour shortages in a timely manner is critical to our ability to create the necessary housing supply.

To do this, the Chamber advocates for:

• Ensuring the residential construction sector can recruit and train the workers it needs, both locally and through immigration

As your professional association, GVR is committed to making sure real-world expertise from REALTORS® and developers informs the policies shaping our region and our country.