Build Canada Homes has signed agreements with provinces and municipalities and taken steps to move thousands of new housing units toward construction in the first 100 days since Ana Bailão became chief executive officer, the agency said.
Requests for qualifications have been issued for six Direct Build housing sites on federal land across Canada, a process intended to accelerate construction using modular and factory-built methods. The projects are expected to deliver up to 4,000 housing units.
In Toronto, the Arbo Downsview site is planned to include 540 homes, with at least 40 per cent designated as affordable housing. The federal government has also committed up to $283 million for local infrastructure improvements in the Downsview area, which it says could support the development of up to 63,000 additional homes over time.
In Winnipeg, Build Canada Homes plans to deliver 320 homes at Naawi-Oodena, a redevelopment project led by Treaty One First Nations in partnership with Canada Lands Company. The project is intended to create a mixed-use community that incorporates Indigenous culture and housing.
Two parcels at the Village at Griesbach in Edmonton have been identified for 355 homes. In Quebec, a waterfront site at Pointe-de-Longueuil is expected to deliver 1,055 homes, with 40 per cent planned as non-market housing.
In Ottawa, an 18-acre federal site known as Heron is expected to accommodate approximately 1,100 homes. In Dartmouth, N.S., the first phase of development at Shannon Park includes a parcel expected to support up to 630 mixed-market homes, with a minimum of 40 per cent offered below market value.
In addition to federal land projects, Build Canada Homes has signed an agreement with the City of Ottawa valued at up to $400 million to accelerate mixed-income and affordable housing through land activation and streamlined approvals. Construction on sites enabled by the agreement is expected to begin in 2026. The city has committed to reducing or waiving development charges, permit fees and property taxes for eligible projects.
The agency has also signed an agreement of up to $300 million with Nova Scotia to support community and non-profit housing projects across the province. The partnership includes early construction at Shannon Park and focuses on supportive and below-market housing, with an emphasis on faster approvals and the use of modern construction methods. Halifax Regional Municipality is participating in the initiative.
Build Canada Homes said thousands of affordable housing units are expected to begin construction this year, with additional projects planned in the coming years.
