Federal government unveils pre-approved home designs to tackle housing crisis in 2024

December 18, 2023


Photo: Library and Archives Canada

Post World War II strategy to ramp up housing construction across Canada inspires the federal government. "When many thousands of soldiers were returning home to be reunited with their families at once, Canada faced enormous housing crunches," said Housing Minister Sean Fraser. “We intend to take these lessons from our history books and bring them into the 21st century."
A modern-day catalogue comprising various pre-approved home designs—including garden suites, laneway homes, and multiplexes suitable for student housing or seniors' residences—will be part of their plan. These designs will align with existing building codes to streamline approval processes and facilitate faster construction.
Fraser highlighted their primary objectives, "Our goal is to create designs that are not only quick and cost-effective to build but also uphold standards of quality and sustainability. This approach ensures residents benefit from reduced monthly power bills, contributing to a more manageable cost of living." Experts estimate this initiative could potentially shave off up to one year from the typical construction timeline for a project. Consultations are slated to commence January 2024 with the aim of making the catalogue available in the fall of the same year.