National

U.S. tariffs set to slow pace of homebuilding in Canada: CHBA

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Mar, 2025 10:55 AM

Canada's building industry says a trade war with the United States will slow down the pace of home construction.

Canadian Home Builders' Association CEO Kevin Lee says the U.S. tariffs levied against Canada today will have a "muted" impact on the industry on their own.

But he says an expected slowdown in the economy tied to tariff impacts could hold the housing market back, dragging down housing starts.

Today, CHBA CEO Kevin Lee spoke to reporters on Parliament Hill about the release of CHBA's #MunicipalBenchmarkingStudy, underscoring that policy change is needed to ramp up housing supply & address #housingaffordability challenges.

Watch 🎥 https://t.co/968y1iFKuq #cdnpoli
— CHBA National (@CHBANational) March 4, 2025

Canada has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's trade salvos with retaliatory tariffs targeting $30 billion worth of U.S. goods, with billions more in counter-tariffs set to follow in three weeks.

Lee says that if these retaliatory tariffs hit critical construction materials coming from the U.S., they could drive up costs for builders.

He says municipalities can help offset the slowdown by speeding up approval processes and lowering development charges to get new homes built.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

After Trump pitches idea, Russian ambassador says Moscow not rejoining G7

Canada disagrees with U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that Russia rejoin the G7 — but Moscow says the idea is a non-starter anyway. Moscow's Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov says "Russia has no interest" in joining the Group of Seven, which he calls an "outdated structure."

After Trump pitches idea, Russian ambassador says Moscow not rejoining G7

Haida celebrate title agreement, Trudeau emotional at ceremony

With tears streaming down his face, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a gathering of Haida Nation leaders and community members that he couldn't think of a better place to make one of his final trips as Canada's leader. Federal and Haida leaders signed a historic agreement Monday recognizing Aboriginal title over the archipelago of Haida Gwaii off British Columbia's northern coast.

Haida celebrate title agreement, Trudeau emotional at ceremony

B.C. LifeLabs prepares for rotating closures after notice of strike

LifeLabs in British Columbia says some of its more than 100 centres will be subject to rotating temporary closures starting Thursday as part of job action taken by its union workers. The B.C. General Employees' Union, which represents about 1,200 LifeLab workers, announced the job action Sunday after what it said was months of negotiations and the company's refusal to bring wages and benefits in line with the cost of living.

B.C. LifeLabs prepares for rotating closures after notice of strike

Throne speech kicks off B.C.'s legislative session at time of 'extraordinary change'

British Columbia's legislative session opens today amid what Premier David Eby describes as a time of "extraordinary change and uncertainty." Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia is scheduled to deliver the speech from the throne this afternoon, laying out the B.C. government's plan as looming U.S. tariffs threaten the Canadian economy.

Throne speech kicks off B.C.'s legislative session at time of 'extraordinary change'

Five hurt after ambulance responding to call crashes with SUV

RCMP say five people went to hospital after an ambulance responding to a service call crashed with an SUV west of Edmonton. The crash happened Monday along a stretch of highway in Parkland County, south of Stony Plain.

Five hurt after ambulance responding to call crashes with SUV

Joly says Canadians interested in 'being involved' in Ukraine's security after war

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she wants Canadians to play a role in keeping the peace in Ukraine after Russia's war ends. U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to hold talks with Russian officials on how to end the war, which started with Moscow's 2014 invasion and escalated to a full-scale war almost three years ago.