Eliminating interprovincial trade barriers would add 30,000 annual housing starts: CMHC
A new analysis by the national housing agency estimates Canada could add 30,000 more housing starts annually by eliminating interprovincial trade barriers.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says that would push the total number of annual housing starts close to 280,000 over time, which would represent a 'meaningful step towards fixing Canada's housing supply gap.'
CMHC chief economist Mathieu Laberge says that in order to achieve this, Canada must reduce interprovincial constraints holding back west-to-east transportation infrastructure, which would help maximize the use of domestic materials across the country.
Laberge cites a survey by Statistics Canada showing close to half of Canadian construction firms blame distance and transportation costs as the main reasons for not purchasing goods or services from suppliers in another province or territory.
Eliminating interprovincial trade barriers was a focal point of Prime Minister Mark Carney's campaign during the spring federal election, and his government has since passed Bill C-5, an omnibus bill that reduces federal restrictions on interprovincial trade while speeding up permitting for large infrastructure projects.
Experts have said that law is only the first step of the process as it deals with red tape put up by the federal government, rather than rules set by the provinces, which have the most authority in this area.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025.
Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
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Friday letters Photo by Illustration / Toronto Sun WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Hey, Mark Carney, here's a novel idea. Rather than just meet with the premiers to discuss how you're going to punish Donald Trump over tariffs, which is just going to hurt Canadians, why don't you call or meet with him and negotiate a fair deal for Canada like you were elected to do. Heck, even Japan did that and got a great deal for it citizens. Mark Slobodian York (It seems Canada has put in place the wrong negotiator. Carney is going to have to pivot quickly) TRUMP WASN'T THE PROBLEM With all this talk about the tariff war and how we are led to believe that Trump is the problem, let me remind everyone (especially those with TDS – Trump Derangement Syndrome) that Canada's economy was in the toilet long before Trump even got elected president for the second time and initiated this tariff nonsense. And that, my friends, is because of the cancerous Liberal government here in Canada. Trump isn't helping matters with his tariffs, but the Liberals are 100% at fault here for the abysmal state of our economy. Not to mention the crime. That's a whole other story, and not a good one at that. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Robert Onyskiw Etobicoke (It is worth repeating – Donald Trump being President for the last six months did not put Canada on its current ruinous economic path – that began over a decade ago under Trudeau) UNREALISTIC PLAN Israel has said that the statement by Canada and 24 other nations on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is 'disconnected from reality.' I would prefer to say that it is unrealistic. It calls for the 'unconditional release' of hostages, as Canada has always proposed in the past. Hamas has always demanded that some Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody also be released. It is unlikely that it will ever forgo this condition. The proposal by Canada and the other nations is idealistic and unrealistic in light of what we know about Hamas's position. Bruce Couchman Toronto (No deal without all the hostages being released) Sports Toronto & GTA Canada Toronto & GTA World
