As the April 28 federal election draws closer, housing affordability is taking center stage for voters across Ontario, particularly in areas like Kitchener and Richmond Hill. With home prices and rent continuing to climb, many Canadians say their dreams of homeownership are slipping further out of reach—and they want real solutions from federal leaders, not just campaign promises.
In Kitchener Centre, 31-year-old Iuri Rezende Souza told CBC News that he’s worried he’ll be retired before he can afford a home. Despite his efforts to build a life in Canada, he feels federal politicians have been too slow to act on the growing crisis. His frustrations are echoed by many Canadians who participated in a CBC News election survey, which found housing to be their top concern.
University of Guelph student Chris Lozinski, who lives in Richmond Hill, shared a similar perspective with CBC News. He expressed disappointment that major party platforms fail to address the root causes of the crisis. He believes most new housing developments are priced well beyond the reach of first-time buyers, leaving younger generations dependent on family inheritances to even dream of homeownership.
Industry experts also say systemic barriers are holding back supply. Scott Andison, CEO of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, told CBC News that high construction costs, government-imposed fees, and a lack of infrastructure—such as roads and wastewater systems—are making it harder to build affordable homes. With around 35% of a home’s cost going directly to various levels of government, Andison argues that reducing these costs is essential. He supports broad GST cuts on new homes to encourage market movement and free up entry-level housing for new buyers.
But it’s not just about quantity—it’s also about building the right kind of homes. Philip Mills, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region, stressed to CBC News that affordability must be at the heart of any new policy. His organization is developing projects in Cambridge and planning new builds in Kitchener and Waterloo. Mills sees potential in policy proposals that include low-cost financing, public land use, and long-term affordability guarantees. These, he said, offer a realistic path forward.
All major federal parties have now placed housing at the forefront of their campaigns—but with different strategies. The Conservative Party is proposing to cut GST on new homes under $1.3 million, tie federal funding to housing targets, and sell 15% of federal buildings for new developments. The Liberal Party plans to establish a national housing agency, provide billions in financing for prefab home construction, and eliminate GST for first-time buyers on homes under $1 million. The NDP is pledging a $16 billion strategy to build three million affordable homes by 2030 and develop 100,000 rent-controlled units on Crown land. Meanwhile, the Green Party aims to prevent corporate ownership of single-family homes and promote co-housing and intergenerational living models.
Despite these proposals, voters like Souza and Lozinski remain skeptical. They argue that the current focus on tax incentives for high-value homes misses the broader issue: that many working-class families, students, and young Canadians are being left behind. As the election approaches, they say they’ll be watching closely to see which party is truly committed to tackling what they see as one of Canada’s most urgent challenges.
Originally published on Weekly Voice