The latest developments in housing policy from across Canada:

NATIONAL
- Federal government releases Blueprint for a Renters’ Bill of Rights
The federal government released a new Blueprint for a Renters’ Bill of Rights, which includes a range of measures that aim to improve fairness, equality, access and affordability for renters. It also makes clear that all levels of government are responsible for fulfilling the right to housing for renters. However, it lacks critical accountability and enforcement mechanisms. CCHR shared our key takeaways, concerns and ongoing advocacy actions related to the blueprint.
- Statistics Canada releases new data on housing needs and conditions
Statistics Canada released the 2022 Canadian Housing Survey results, which highlight ongoing affordability challenges across the country. Rates of core housing need returned to pre-pandemic levels, following a decrease due to pandemic-related financial benefits. Twenty-two per cent of renters were in core housing need (compared to six per cent of homeowners), with Indigenous (18 per cent) and racialized (14 per cent) households facing the highest rates of core housing need. Canadians reporting financial difficulty due to housing costs nearly doubled from 2018 to 2022. - National Housing Council announces review panel on homelessness among women and gender-diverse people
The National Housing Council announced a review panel on Canada’s failure to prevent and eliminate homelessness amongst women and gender-diverse people. The panel will include written and oral hearings, prioritizing people with lived experience and groups with expertise in human rights and housing. The panel appointed three members who will lead the review and is developing terms of reference. The National Indigenous Women’s Housing Network and Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network have developed a toolkit to support community participation in the panel. - Report shows rents are far outpacing wages across the country
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a report examining wages needed for households to be able to afford rent without sacrificing other basic needs, known as the “rental wage.” The report examined nearly 800 neighbourhoods across the country and found that the rental wage was significantly higher than the minimum wage in every province (up to double for two-bedroom apartments in British Columbia and Nova Scotia). The report calls for modern rent controls, collective bargaining rights for renters and public funding for non-market housing in light of rapidly rising rents and the increasing financialization of housing.
PROVINCIAL / TERRITORIAL
Nova Scotia
- Government proposes rent cap extension, while opposition calls to close fixed-term lease loophole
Nova Scotia has proposed to extend its five per cent rent increase cap (currently in place until the end of 2025) until the end of 2027. The government has also proposed to decrease the timelines for rental arrears evictions. The opposition NDP criticized the announcement and tabled a private members bill to close the loop on fixed-term leases, which leaves renters vulnerable to rent increases above the five per cent cap.
Prince Edward Island
- Landlords push back against rent increase guideline, while rents outpace inflation
Prince Edward Island announced that its 2025 rent increase guideline will be 2.3 per cent, however landlords can apply for an increase of up to 5.3 per cent. While some landlords have pushed back against the application of the rent increase guideline to both occupied and vacant units, claiming that it decreases rental construction, the opposition Green Party noted that investment in the construction sector has recently increased. At the same time, data shows that rent increases on PEI have outpaced the rate of inflation in recent years.
Ontario
- Report shows savings generated through short-term rental regulations
McGill University Professor Dr. David Wachsmuth released a report quantifying the impact of short-term rentals (STR) on housing affordability and rental prices across Ontario. The report shows that STR growth has led to significant rent increases, costing Ontarians $1.6 billion in additional rent since 2017. Meanwhile, current STR regulations have saved renters more than $1 billion annually. Municipalities with principal residence restrictions experienced rent increases that were 3.3 per cent lower than those without such restrictions. If expanded across Ontario, principal residence restrictions could save renters an additional $572 million annually. Similar outcomes were found in British Columbia.
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan rents rising fastest across the country
Despite having some of the lowest rents in the country, rents in Saskatchewan rose faster than in any other province year over year, increasing by up to 18.4 per cent for a two-bedroom apartment in Saskatoon. Some landlords cited the need to increase rents due to increasing operating costs, such as property tax, utilities and maintenance. However, research shows a steep rise in the proportion of financialized landlords in Saskatchewan, with up to 70 times more corporate-owned rental units than in Manitoba. The research suggests that the lack of rent regulations in Saskatchewan attracts corporate landlords and contributes to rapidly increasing rents.
British Columbia
- Report shows need for significant expansion of non-market housing to improve affordability
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a report calling for British Columbia to build 250,000 non-market rental units over ten years to improve affordability and address wealth inequality. The report outlines the impact of the housing affordability crisis on the provincial economy and proposes several policy recommendations for all levels of government, including tax reforms, zoning changes, renter protections and the expansion of new programs, such as the Rental Protection Fund.
Yukon
- Judge strikes down legislation that allowed evictions with only five days’ notice
A Yukon judge struck down a section of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act that allowed for evictions with just five days’ notice. The judge cited that such evictions could cause “extraordinary psychological suffering,” infringing on the right to security of the person outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Legal and community advocates have long advocated for changes to the legislation, which aims to address community safety concerns without involving the police. The rest of the legislation remains in place.
MUNICIPAL / LOCAL
- Ontario municipalities implementing stronger renter protections
Municipalities across Ontario are implementing bylaws that seek to strengthen protections for renters. Following Hamilton and Toronto, London recently adopted a new renovictions bylaw, which requires landlords to obtain a renovation license and report stating the need for a unit to be vacant for renovations to proceed. While the bylaw aims to deter bad faith renovictions, some councilors and advocates called for it to be strengthened through more substantial penalties for landlords and additional supports for displaced renters. Meanwhile, Brampton’s rental licensing pilot program, aimed at addressing rental housing maintenance and safety issues, has led to 4,700 inspections and over 600 penalty notices. Despite some landlord opposition to the program, councilors noted the program’s success in identifying and addressing rental housing issues.