Government Initiatives by Province to Address Housing
What You Need to Know
9/5/20257 min read
Housing has become one of the biggest challenges across Canada in recent years. Rising rents, difficulty in qualifying for a mortgage, bidding wars on even modest properties, and a growing shortage of affordable units have made securing a stable home feel out of reach for many. The silver lining is that all levels of government — and particularly provincial governments — have recognized just how urgent the housing crisis has become. While the details differ across provinces, there’s a clear pattern of new initiatives designed to make housing more accessible, affordable, and responsive to local needs.
If you’re trying to figure out what’s happening in different parts of the country, this post takes you province by province, breaking down the major housing initiatives. The idea isn’t to overwhelm with policy jargon, but to give a clear sense of what’s being done, what’s working, and what might matter most as you think about where you live, work, or invest in your future.
Why Provinces Are Central to Housing Policy
Before diving into the regional specifics, it’s worth noting why provinces are often in the driver’s seat. While the federal government sets the broad framework through programs like the National Housing Strategy, provinces are responsible for urban planning, land-use regulation, tenant protections, rent control, infrastructure, and many subsidies. That means what housing looks like in British Columbia can feel very different from Quebec or Nova Scotia — not just because of geography, but because of specific policy decisions.
British Columbia
British Columbia has been at the frontline of the housing crisis, particularly in Metro Vancouver and Victoria. The province has launched some of the most aggressive measures in Canada.
Key initiatives include:
Speculation and Vacancy Tax: Designed to discourage people from leaving homes empty while demand is high. This tax applies to certain homeowners who don’t rent out or occupy their property.
Short-Term Rental Regulations: New rules limit the use of platforms like Airbnb, encouraging property owners to return units to the long-term rental market.
Housing Supply Act: This legislation allows the provincial government to step in when municipalities aren’t zoning or approving enough housing, with targets set for how many homes must be built.
Rent Protection Measures: Annual rent increases are strictly capped, and additional supports exist for tenants facing renovictions.
Affordable Rental Programs: Through BC Housing, the province has invested heavily in building supportive housing, co-op housing, and affordable rental units.
For those feeling priced out in BC cities, the combination of supply-side pushes and regulations on speculative ownership is intended to slowly rebalance the market.
Alberta
Alberta’s housing situation is somewhat different because home prices and rents — while rising — aren’t as extreme as in BC or Ontario. The province has focused more on maintaining affordability and supporting vulnerable populations.
Key initiatives include:
Affordable Housing Strategy: Alberta has committed to modernizing and expanding its affordable housing stock with a ten-year plan to add thousands of units.
Partnerships with Non-profits: Much of the province’s approach involves working with housing providers to deliver subsidized units.
Rental Assistance Programs: Rent supplement programs help individuals and families bridge the gap between market rent and what they can afford.
Indigenous Housing: Specific funding goes toward Indigenous-led housing projects, acknowledging the higher rates of housing insecurity in Indigenous communities.
Alberta’s strategy is less about curbing speculation and more about ensuring those on lower incomes aren’t left behind as cities like Calgary and Edmonton grow.
Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, the housing market has been relatively balanced compared to other provinces, but affordability challenges still exist, particularly in Regina and Saskatoon.
Key initiatives include:
Saskatchewan Housing Benefit: A rent supplement program for low-income households.
Partnerships on Affordable Housing: The province frequently co-funds projects with the federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Repair and Renovation Programs: Assistance is available for low-income homeowners to upgrade or repair their houses, keeping aging stock habitable.
Supportive Housing for Vulnerable Groups: Programs target seniors, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness.
The emphasis here is less about speculative markets and more on ensuring that vulnerable populations don’t fall through the cracks.
Manitoba
Manitoba has an active history of public housing and continues to use a mix of public and non-profit approaches.
Key initiatives include:
Rent Assist Program: A portable housing benefit that follows the tenant, allowing them to choose where to live rather than being limited to specific buildings.
Public Housing Maintenance: Manitoba has one of the more robust public housing stocks in the country, with ongoing commitments to keep those units functional.
Affordable Home Ownership Support: Programs are in place to help low- to moderate-income households transition to ownership through down payment assistance.
Co-operative Housing: The province promotes alternative housing models that emphasize community and affordability.
Manitoba’s blend of rental supports and ownership opportunities makes it distinctive, aiming to provide a bridge for households that are stable but still struggling to buy into the private market.
Ontario
Ontario has one of the most intense housing crises in the country, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area. Skyrocketing rents and home prices have forced the province to take major action.
Key initiatives include:
More Homes Built Faster Act (2022): This legislation overhauls planning rules to accelerate development, particularly around transit hubs, and cuts red tape for builders.
Housing Supply Action Plans: Ontario has committed to building 1.5 million homes over the next decade, with annual targets and strong pressure on municipalities to approve projects.
Inclusionary Zoning: Municipalities like Toronto can require developers to include affordable units in new builds.
Rental Housing Construction Incentives: The province is working with the private sector to rapidly expand purpose-built rental housing.
Tenant Protections: Rules exist around rent control, but only for older buildings; newly constructed ones are exempt, sparking ongoing debates.
Ontario’s approach focuses heavily on increasing supply at all costs, while tenant groups continue to push for stronger protections against rent hikes and evictions.
Quebec
Quebec’s housing context is unique because of its history with strong tenant protections and a large base of co-operative housing. Montreal, however, is still experiencing affordability issues.
Key initiatives include:
Strong Rent Control Regime: Quebec offers some of the toughest protections in Canada, with annual rent increase guidelines that tenants can contest.
AccèsLogis Program: A long-standing initiative that provides funding to build affordable rental housing, often managed by non-profits or co-ops.
Municipal Powers: Cities like Montreal are aggressive in regulating development, often requiring a significant portion of affordable units in new projects.
Student Housing Investments: Recognizing the pressure universities place on the rental market, Quebec has supported purpose-built residences.
Quebec’s approach leans more heavily on regulation and public intervention than provinces like Alberta or Ontario.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick, once considered a hidden gem for affordable living, has seen housing costs spike as more people move east.
Key initiatives include:
Rent Cap (Temporary): The province introduced a temporary rent cap in response to surging prices, though it has been debated politically.
Affordable Housing Development: Investments are being made in new affordable units, particularly in fast-growing cities like Moncton and Fredericton.
Homeownership Assistance for First-Time Buyers: Programs exist to help new buyers with down payments and closing costs.
Homelessness Prevention: Targeted funding has gone into shelters and supportive housing.
The province is walking a fine line between encouraging investment and making sure locals aren’t priced out of the market.
Nova Scotia
Halifax has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and Nova Scotia has had to adapt quickly.
Key initiatives include:
Rent Cap: Initially temporary during the pandemic, Nova Scotia capped rent increases to prevent sudden spikes.
Housing for Health Strategy: Focused on supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Affordable Housing Fund: The province invests in partnerships with non-profits to develop low-cost rental stock.
Student Housing Expansion: With large universities, there’s been a concerted push to increase student housing to relieve pressure on the rental market.
Nova Scotia is confronting a rapid affordability problem head-on, with a mix of caps, subsidies, and new builds.
Prince Edward Island
PEI is Canada’s smallest province, but it hasn’t been immune to housing pressures, particularly in Charlottetown.
Key initiatives include:
Rent Control: A system is in place that restricts how much landlords can raise rents annually.
Housing Action Plan: This comprehensive plan aims to both increase supply and offer supports for renters and first-time buyers.
Incentives for New Rental Construction: Developers can receive financing incentives to build purpose-built rental units.
Down Payment Assistance Program: First-time buyers can access interest-free loans to help with initial costs.
PEI’s policies reflect a balance between tenant protection and incentivizing new supply.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador face unique challenges due to geography, outmigration, and an aging housing stock.
Key initiatives include:
Supportive Housing Programs: Partnerships with community organizations deliver supportive housing for those at risk of homelessness.
Home Repair and Improvement Grants: Programs assist low-income owners in upgrading aging homes to meet safety standards.
Rental Housing Supplements: Monthly subsidies to help households afford market rent.
Focus on Rural Housing Challenges: Recognizing that many remote areas face very different issues than urban centres.
The focus here is pragmatic: maintain old housing, support vulnerable residents, and stabilize the market.
The Territories
While not provinces, it’s important to acknowledge the unique housing context in the North.
Yukon: Investments in modular housing and support for First Nations-led housing projects.
Northwest Territories: Programs addressing overcrowding and funding for new affordable builds.
Nunavut: Some of the highest rates of housing insecurity in Canada, with large-scale public housing projects underway.
What This Means for You
Across all provinces, there are common threads:
More emphasis on building supply quickly.
Increased use of rental assistance and portable benefits.
Struggles to balance tenant protections with incentives for new construction.
Recognition of the need for Indigenous-led housing strategies.
Whether you’re renting, saving for a first place, or thinking about relocating, these provincial actions matter because they shape how much housing gets built, how affordable rents are, and what kinds of protections you have as a tenant or homeowner.
Final Thoughts
Housing in Canada is no longer just a topic for policymakers or economists — it’s a daily reality shaping decisions about where we live, how much debt we take on, and what kind of communities we can build. Provincial governments may not solve the crisis overnight, but their actions are reshaping the housing landscape in real time.
By paying attention to what each province is doing, you can better navigate your own housing journey — whether that means taking advantage of rent supplements, looking into down payment supports, or simply knowing what rights you have as a tenant.
The good news is that across the country, awareness has never been higher, and momentum for change is building. While challenges remain, the path forward is clearer: more homes, more affordable options, and a stronger safety net for those at risk of being left behind.