On the first day of this year, the federal
Limiting the ability of non-Canadians to purchase a home from Canada’s tight supply probably sounded like a reasonable measure in the middle of last year, when many seemed to agree that the housing market needed cooling. It made for good political sound bites, despite the fact that most foreign owners of residential property in Canada offer it for rent, thereby adding to the housing stock available to Canadians.
Unfortunately, limiting the purchase of existing homes by non-Canadians is not the only outcome of these new rules. Because of how they are worded, they also limit investment in new housing projects, threatening future supply. The act prevents Canadian companies, corporations and real-estate investment trusts with more than three per cent foreign ownership from buying not only finished housing units — which was its declared purpose — but also vacant land that is zoned for housing and mixed use.
The legislation fails to acknowledge that the development industry, like virtually every other Canadian industry, relies on extensive investment and capital, often from foreign sources, to build the housing supply it makes available to Canadians and that vacant land zoned for residential and mixed use is where future housing is typically built. In other words, the seemingly helpful provisions of the act cut off access to funding and capital for future housing projects.
The stated intention of the new rules was to make more homes from the existing supply available to Canadians by restricting new non-Canadian buyers for a period of time. The practical implication of the act, as currently structured, is to prevent Canadian builders and developers from accessing the necessary capital to build more homes, jeopardizing the future supply Canadians need.
Dave Wilkes is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association , the voice of the home building, land development and professional renovation industry in the GTA. For the latest industry news and new home data, visit www.bildgta.ca.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Soggy California drenched anew as Nor'easter buries New England, New YorkThe latest in a series of atmospheric river storms spread across California on Tuesday, bringing another deluge of rain to the already-saturated state, while a Nor'easter swirling over New York and New England buried parts of the region in white.
Read more »
Soggy California drenched anew as Nor'easter buries New England, New YorkThe latest in a series of atmospheric river storms spread across California on Tuesday, bringing another deluge of rain.
Read more »
The Navigators release new album, plan new tour
Read more »
New way of financing housing development approvedBelleville council has wholeheartedly approved a new way of financing new residential construction that could ...
Read more »
Opinion | New rules for high school students should prove a plus for much-needed trades trainingEdward Keenan: New rules for high school students should prove a plus for much-needed trades training
Read more »
B.C. approves $3.2-billion Cedar LNG project, announces new emissions rulesThe B.C. government has granted environmental approval to another coastal LNG facility, while announcing new emissions rules for the industry.
Read more »