Boosting Housing Supply: Canadian Government Lists Federal Lands for Affordable Housing Development

Canada Public Land Bank Tool Launched to Support Efforts

On August 25, 2024, the Government of Canada announced it is listing federal lands to help support Canadian housing. As part of this initiative, the government also launched the Canada Public Land Bank,  a tool designed to list federal properties suitable for housing development, on August 27th. This initiative is part of the new Public Lands for Homes Plan, aimed at alleviating the housing crisis by using federal land resources to boost housing construction.

The Canada Public Land Bank, which currently features 56 federal properties across Canada, totalling 305 hectares, is intended to provide a streamlined approach for housing developers. The tool simplifies the housing development process by making information about available federal lands easily accessible to builders, housing providers, and community organizations. 

Five properties are immediately available for builders to submit their plans. 

A New Strategy to Address Housing Needs

Central to this initiative is a shift from selling federal lands outright to offering long-term leases. This approach ensures that the land remains in public hands while promoting the development of affordable housing. The leasing model is intended to maintain long-term affordability and ensure that the land continues to serve the public interest.

The Canada Lands Company (CLC) is involved in implementing this plan. As outlined in Budget 2024, the CLC’s mandate will be adapted to focus on delivering housing solutions more quickly. In collaboration with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the CLC has launched a call for proposals, inviting housing providers to access selected properties in cities like Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, and Montréal. These properties are offered on a long-term lease basis at a reduced cost, encouraging the development of affordable housing.

Interactive Planning

The Canada Public Land Bank includes an interactive online map showing available federal properties for housing development. Users can explore property details such as location, size, and access to public transit. The tool also provides information on how to submit inquiries and proposals for developing these sites. The government is seeking feedback to guide the development of these properties and ensure that the process is transparent and inclusive.

The initiative aims to involve a broad range of stakeholders, including Indigenous groups, community organizations, builders, and other housing providers, so housing solutions that are developed will meet diverse community needs.

Accelerating Housing Development

To further address the housing crisis, Public Services and Procurement Canada plans to implement new service standards to speed up the process of making properties available for housing development. The government is also conducting ongoing reviews of surplus and underutilized federal properties to identify additional opportunities for housing. The Canada Public Land Bank will be regularly updated as new properties are added to the list.

Funding and Future Plans

In addition to the Canada Public Land Bank, the government has introduced the Public Lands Acquisition Fund, with an allocation of $500 million from Budget 2024. This fund will be used to purchase land from other levels of government, expanding the inventory of properties available for housing development. Further details about this fund will be released later.

Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities, Sean Fraser, highlighted the initiative’s practical focus, stating, “We need to build more homes in Canada, and one of the largest costs in building is land. By building on public lands, we can make it easier to build, and by leasing those same properties, we can ensure that the homes built remain affordable over the long term.”

Canada’s Broader Housing Plan

The Public Lands for Homes Plan is a key component of Canada’s broader Housing Plan, which aims to create 250,000 new homes by 2031 and address the challenges of affordable housing.