The President of the Canadian Home Builders Association says red tape and government regulations continue to drive up housing costs in this province.
Curtis Mercer spoke at a housing forum hosted by the association this week, following a speech by the housing minister outlining what he feels the government is doing well to address the issue.
He says government needs to do more to attract new people into the industry and reduce red tape before it can help lower home-buying costs.
Curtis Mercer – President of the Canadian Home Builders Association (VOCM News).
“In general, the home building industry, it’s cost, and that’s either through the cost of materials, lost time through permitting processes, red tape at all levels of government. There’s also building codes that are causing increased costs and timeframes and frustrations.”
He says those building code changes could spike the price of homes by some tens of thousands of dollars.
“The updates to the 2025, which is what’s out there now, to be adopted by the municipalities and the provinces, some are changes that are required, and some are just changes that are being lobbied by other groups,” he told VOCM News.
“Right now, our estimation across Canada on the average 2,000 square foot home to go from 2020 to 2025 building code is $60,000.”
