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

B.C. judge tosses drug evidence for 'numerous and flagrant' rights violations

The court issued two rulings on evidence collected by Vernon Mounties in a case against Nabil Abdelkader, who police believed was in the drug trade after finding methamphetamine and cocaine in a jeep they searched in October 2020.

B.C. judge tosses drug evidence for 'numerous and flagrant' rights violations

Canada invests $72 million in satellite constellation to monitor active wildfires

Canada is investing $72 million on a novel satellite constellation that will monitor active forest fires across the country. Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault made the announcement today at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters south of Montreal.

Canada invests $72 million in satellite constellation to monitor active wildfires

Three men in Quebec accused of smuggling people from the U.S. into Canada

The RCMP say three men in Quebec have been charged for helping to smuggle people into Canada from the United States. During two separate events last year, the three men were intercepted in vehicles near the U.S. border in the Montérégie region southwest of Montreal, allegedly waiting to pick up people who had crossed into Canada illegally.

Three men in Quebec accused of smuggling people from the U.S. into Canada

Health care, tax cuts and Highway 401 tunnel focus of Ontario campaign trail

Health care, tax cuts and a pledge to build a tunnel under Highway 401 are the focus on the Ontario campaign trail today. NDP Leader Marit Stiles has pledged to connect every Ontarian to a family doctor or nurse practitioner at a cost of more than $4 billion.

Health care, tax cuts and Highway 401 tunnel focus of Ontario campaign trail

Liberal leadership candidates will have to clear $125,000 hurdle today

Federal Liberal leadership candidates will have to cross another hurdle today to remain in the race — a payment of $125,000 to the party. The party requires candidates to pay a total entrance fee of $350,000 in instalments.

Liberal leadership candidates will have to clear $125,000 hurdle today

Canada adds 76,000 jobs in January as unemployment rate falls to 6.6%

Canada's unemployment rate ticked down in January as the labour market added 76,000 jobs, beating economist expectations for the month. The jobless rate ticked down 0.1 percentage points to 6.6 per cent, marking the second straight monthly decline after peaking at 6.9 per cent in November, Statistics Canada reported on Friday.