Prime Minister Mark Carney made significant announcements at a breakfast event hosted by Ottawa’s mayor on Monday. The focus was on providing more details about the federal housing plan’s impact on Ottawa.
In September, the Liberals introduced the Build Canada Homes agency, pledging a $13-billion fund to support the construction of affordable housing nationwide. The initial project will involve redeveloping a vacant federal government campus on Heron Road.
During the event at Ottawa’s Rogers Centre, Carney revealed plans for a joint $400 million investment by the city and federal government to erect up to 3,000 new residential units in buildings designated as either partially or fully affordable. The city will assist by reducing fees and property taxes for developments on federal lands, with a commitment to prioritize Canadian building materials.
A report from the parliamentary budget officer in August highlighted the need for Canada to build 690,000 new housing units by 2035, in addition to ongoing construction, to address the country’s housing demands. The Build Canada Homes initiative is expected to deliver 26,000 new units.
In addition to housing initiatives, Carney announced a $1.2 million federal investment in a substance abuse pilot project by the city and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. The project aims to enhance coordinated responses to crime and substance abuse while fostering skills development. The pilot will guide individuals towards safer cultural and recreational activities and improve the handling of dangerous drugs.
Canada also expressed interest in hosting the 2028 La Francophonie summit in Ottawa-Gatineau for the organization’s 90 member states and observers. The last time Canada hosted this summit was in 2008.
Separately, a collaboration between the city and province will result in the construction of 33 modular townhomes with three to four bedrooms each on Beechcliffe Street, near Woodroffe Avenue and Knoxdale Road. Ottawa is investing $3 million and providing the land, with an additional $3.4 million from the Ontario government and $3 million from the province’s Building Faster Fund. Habitat for Humanity, a global charity, will be involved in this project.