Vancouver: The governments of Canada and Quebec are strengthening their collaboration to accelerate housing construction and support community development.
“Too many families in Quebec are still looking for a home that meets their needs. Municipalities need reliable, well‑adapted infrastructure to make that possible. By working closely with the Government of Quebec, we’re creating the conditions to speed up homebuilding, remove barriers, and deliver real solutions for communities.” Said Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure.
In order to ensure the harmonized deployment of Build Canada Homes in Quebec, in line with its priorities and jurisdictions, the governments of Canada and Quebec have signed a memorandum of understanding to guide their collaboration. Through a joint Collaboration Table, the two governments will work together to fund affordable housing projects aligned with shared priorities, simplify and accelerate approval processes, and ensure better coordination between government, municipal, and community partners.
The Government of Canada announced a $6 billion pan Canadian envelope for the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) to accelerate the construction and upgrading of infrastructure that is essential for housing: drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and certain solid waste solutions.
“The agreement announced a major step forward in housing. It is significant and fully respects Quebec’s jurisdiction, priorities, and legislative framework. ”said Caroline Proulx, Minister Responsible for Housing and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.
Recognizing that accelerating residential construction necessarily requires major infrastructure investments, the two governments also announced the signing of the Agreement on the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF). Under this agreement, the federal government will invest nearly $1 billion, which Quebec will be able to use in accordance with its guidelines and territorial needs to modernize and develop essential infrastructure—particularly in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater—necessary for the completion of new housing projects.
CHIF helps communities secure the infrastructure capacity needed to support more housing and increase density. Funding can be invested in projects that improve drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, as well as initiatives to preserve existing capacity, enhance network reliability, or implement waste diversion measures to reduce landfilling.