Industry insights from the private sector leader.
LATEST BULLETINS
2025 Federal Election Housing Platforms
Canada went to the polls on 28 April. In the run up to the election we shared this bulletin, which compares the leading parties' plans for housing.
2024 Fall Economic Statement
On December 16, 2024, the Government of Canada released the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. The budget for this year delivers the next phase of the government’s economic plan to help create good jobs, build more homes and make life more affordable.
Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund
The Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund will fund capital and planning projects aimed at building new, or expanding or rehabilitating existing drinking water, wastewater, stormwater or solid waste infrastructure to enable more housing. This bulletin explains the two streams under which you can apply for funding.
Apartment Construction Loan Program
CMHC has issued updates to the Apartment Construction Loan Program. The Program introduces three new streams: Standard Rental, Seniors Housing and Student Housing. In this bulletin, EllisDon Community Builders provides an overview of the newly introduced streams and how they might impact new developments.
Enhanced Affordable Housing Fund
CMHC has issued updates regarding the Affordable Housing Fund (“AHF”). The Enhanced Affordable Housing Fund introduces three new streams: New Construction: Community Housing Sub-Stream, New Construction: Rapid Housing Sub-Stream, and Repair and Renewal.
Federal Lands Initiative Update
The Federal Lands Initiative is a $316.9 million program designed to facilitate the transfer or leasing of surplus federal lands and buildings to eligible applicants. These properties are made available at reduced prices or, in some cases, at no cost, with the objective of transforming them into affordable housing.
CMHC Co-op Housing Development Program
This bulletin summarizes the CMHC's latest update to the Co-operative Housing Development program.
The update includes information on funding options, approval processes, and timelines for co-operative housing initiatives.
CMHC Insurance Update
CMHC has issued updates regarding the current Multi-Unit Mortgage Loan Insurance program. The updates change refinancing criteria, project classification, MLI Select Criteria, amortization extension, use of lender correspondents, and environmental site contamination requirements.
This bulletin from EllisDon Community Builders summarizes aspects of the updates that might affect you.
2024 Federal Budget
In April 2024, the Government of Canada delivered the 2024 Federal Budget: Fairness For Every Generation. The budget for this year focuses on building more affordable homes by increasing funding and introducing new initiatives to ensure equal opportunities for all Canadians. This bulletin from EllisDon Community Builders provides a summary of proposed measures.
Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act
As housing continues to be unattainable for many, the Government of Ontario says Bill 185 focuses on providing solutions to support the construction of more housing units, and to meet the Ontario Housing Supply Action Plan target of building 1.5M homes by 2031. This bulletin highlights the solutions being proposed in Bill 185.
Fall Economic Statement
The Government of Canada has released its 2023 Fall Economic Statement: Building a strong economy that works for everyone. The budget for this year delivers the next phase of the government’s economic plan to help create good jobs, build more homes, and make life more affordable. This bulletin from EllisDon Community Builders provides a summary of Canada’s Housing Action Plan.
CMHC Housing Shortages in Canada
In September 2023, the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (“CMHC”) released a report on its assessment of the estimated Housing Supply shortage in Canada. CMHC updated last year’s estimate of how much housing supply is required to reach the target set out for 2030, which was for Canada to achieve levels of affordability last seen around 2004.
INSIGHTS
THINKING BIGGER AT CHRA NATIONAL CONGRESS 2025
Nick Gefucia chaired a panel on scalable solutions
Part of the excellent program at this year's National Congress on Housing and Homelessness (in Saskatoon April 29 – May 1), was a discussion on the topic "Thinking Bigger: Scalable Solutions to the Housing Gap." Nick Gefucia, SVP of EllisDon Community Builders, chaired a session that covered ideas from across Canada and examples from around the world. The panellists:
- Lori-Anne Gagne, Chief Executive Officer at Victoria Park Community Homes
- Steve Jacques, Commissioner Human Services at Peel Region
- Dylan Ward, Director of Development at Rooted
WE'VE LAUNCHED!
Licences are now available for Base Design, the scalable solution to rapid housing delivery.
On 15 April, 2025, EllisDon Community Builders officially launched Base Design, its flexible 'kit-of-parts' building concept for jumpstarting affordable housing developments, saving time, and reducing cost and risk.
Nick Gefucia, Senior Vice President, EllisDon Community Builders, said “Bringing Base Design to the affordable housing sector is an important milestone. As part of our suite of development services, it is the head start housing providers need to tackle Canada’s huge supply gap.”
Community Builders also recently added a free proforma tool to its website. It can produce a report on the feasibility of a project you might be considering. An excellent first step toward deciding if Base Design is right for you!
COMMUNITY BUILDERS INAUGURATES GROUNDSEEDING
Victoria Park Community Homes Providing 261 New Units
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Local political and business leaders gathered in the Yeoville neighbourhood in Hamilton today to celebrate funding and construction of the most significant affordable housing project to be built in the city in years. The Hamilton Spectator covered the story.
57 per cent of units at 60 Caledon are currently slated to be affordable, with 105 units 'deeply affordable'.
Lori-Anne Gagne, Chief Executive Officer of Victoria Park Community Homes, said “The homes we're building here will help individuals and families access safe, affordable shelter, with new park and green space for the entire community. That's good news for the people of Hamilton.”
BASE DESIGN NEWS
Community Builders' Standardized Building Platform Reaches Final of CMHC Competition
EllisDon Community Builders is pleased to have received recognition of our work on standardized housing designs, as CMHC has announced our Base DesignTM solution is one of nine finalists in the Housing Supply Challenge.
Base DesignTM brings certainty to the complex pre-construction processes of permitting, design iterations, funding and financing.
COMMUNITY BUILDERS AT THE AMO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Ashwin Vadivelu Speaks at 125th Anniversary Event
Our Senior Director, Strategy & Origination, Ashwin Vadivelu, was at the Association of Municipalities Ontario Annual Conference on 1 October. He joined 3,300 fellow attendees in the sold out exhibition hall.
Ashwin presented an educational program, sharing information on two key Community Builders' initiatives: our licensable Base Design tool for developing mid-rise affordable housing, and our Housing as InfrastructureTM initiative with CMHC, which takes the best lessons from social infrastructure delivery models and applies them to housing.
Ashwin was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to many provincial officials and looks forward to next year's conference in Ottawa.
IN THE NEWS
Community Builders Talks Public Lands in Financial Post
Nick Gefucia, Senior Vice President of EllisDon Community Builders, provided insights on the federal government's expanded public lands bank in the Financial Post's 27 August article.
COMMUNITY BUILDERS AT THE HOUSING SUPPLY CHALLENGE MIXER
Base DesignTM Among Innovations
Nick Gefucia and Marwan Kassay represented Community Builders at the HSC Innovator Mixer on July 29 at the MaRS discovery district in Toronto. They joined more than 250 fellow participants to discuss the Housing Supply Challenge and share ideas to address the affordable housing crisis.
Marwan presented our Base DesignTM solution at the event, receiving positive feedback and sparking conversation.
IN THE NEWS
Unlocking Public Land to Developers for Affordable Housing
The Canadian government's 2024 federal budget includes a landmark initiative to lease public lands to developers, aiming to reduce capital costs and fast-track the construction of affordable housing across the nation.
Our very own Nick Gefucia, Senior Vice President of EllisDon Community Builders, recently spoke to the Financial Post about how he thinks the leasehold infrastructure delivery model is pivotal for maximizing land potential for residential purposes.
COMUNITY BUILDERS' SVP AMONG CONSTRUCTION'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
Nick Gefucia Earns Site News Award
Construction website SiteNews has presented its 2024 list of Construction’s Most Influential People. And Community Builders' Nick Gefucia is on it!
Construction’s Most Influential People is an annual awards program recognizing individuals across all sectors who significantly impact Canadian construction. SiteNews selects people who "have helped shape how builders build and how the public at large thinks about construction. Their impact is incalculable but it touches on millions of Canadians and includes tens of billions of dollars worth of construction work."
Building Community
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