Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
As the April 28 federal election approaches, the major political parties have unveiled their platforms with significant implications for the construction industry. From ambitious housing targets to infrastructure investments and skilled trades initiatives, here’s a detailed look at each party’s commitments that directly impact builders, contractors, and trades professionals.
Liberal Party (Mark Carney):
- Build 500,000 homes per year with a focus on modular building, including 20,000 new affordable rental units and 130,000 units revitalized.
- GST exemption: Remove the Goods and Services Tax on new-build rental properties.
- Skilled trades immigration: Prioritize skilled tradespeople for permanent residency.
- Federal land use: Unlock more federal lands for housing development.
- Short-term rentals: Crack down on short-term rental platforms to increase housing availability.
Conservative Party (Pierre Poilievre):
- Construct one million new homes within three years.
- Federal building sales: Sell 15% of under-utilized federal buildings for conversion into affordable housing.
- Tax incentives: Allow developers to defer capital gains taxes if profits are reinvested into new rental housing.
- Infrastructure funding: Tie infrastructure funding to municipal housing construction targets, rewarding municipalities that exceed targets.
New Democratic Party (Jagmeet Singh):
- Build three million homes by 2030, with $16 billion over four years.
- Canadian-made materials: Use Canadian steel and other domestic goods in public infrastructure projects.
- Rent control: Implement national rent control policies and a renter’s bill of rights.
- Skilled trades training: Train 100,000 more people in skilled trades.
- Public land use: Use federal Crown land to build over 100,000 rent-controlled homes over the next 10 years.
Infrastructure
Liberal Party:
- High-speed rail: Invest $3.9 billion in Alto, a high-speed rail network connecting Toronto and Quebec City, expected to create over 51,000 jobs during construction.
- Infrastructure spending: Increase infrastructure and defense spending, including new submarines and icebreakers.
Conservative Party:
- National energy corridor: Establish a national energy corridor to facilitate energy project development.
- Energy project approvals: Accelerate energy project approvals to enhance energy sovereignty.
New Democratic Party:
- Public infrastructure: Fund public infrastructure projects using Canadian-made materials to support domestic manufacturing and job creation.
Skilled Trades
Liberal Party:
- Prioritize skilled tradespeople for permanent residency.
- Invest in training programs to address skilled trades shortages.
Conservative Party:
- Support apprenticeships and technical training programs to develop a skilled workforce.
- Facilitate the recognition of foreign credentials to address labor shortages.
- New Democratic Party:
- Train 100,000 more people in skilled trades to meet labor demands.
