Progress is being made on housing, but serious challenges remain

By Grant Cameron

Nov. 3, 2026

Ontario’s housing challenges remained at the forefront of RESCON’s advocacy efforts last month, with a steady stream of commentary focused on the reforms needed to increase housing supply, improve affordability and strengthen the construction workforce.

Fixing the crisis

The housing crisis continues to demand bold action and long-term commitment from all levels of government. In a column in Daily Commercial News, RESCON outlined six key measures that would help get more homes built: streamline the development approvals process, reform development charges, improve apprenticeship completion rates, provide long-term certainty for housing programs, implement permanent and predictable policy reforms, and measure success by actual housing outcomes rather than announcements.

The question of whether governments are making meaningful progress was also explored during a CREB TV broadcast, where RESCON president Richard Lyall discussed whether current housing reforms are translating into shovels in the ground and more homes for Canadians.

Training the trades

Just as housing supply depends on sound public policy, it also relies on a skilled workforce. In a column published in Storeys, RESCON argued that when housing demand rebounds and construction activity accelerates, Canada could once again face significant labour shortages unless the trades training system is strengthened.

In an article published in The Globe and Mail, Lyall noted that many young people receive limited exposure to the skilled trades during their school years and often encounter a confusing and difficult path into apprenticeship programs. Those barriers contribute to the relatively high average age of new apprentices.

The industry’s challenge is not attracting people into the trades but helping them finish. In a column for Canadian Forest Industries, RESCON highlighted the growing gap between apprenticeship registrations and completions, arguing for a system that better supports apprentices through to certification.

Housing summit follow-up

The themes emerging from RESCON’s Housing Summit in September continue to generate discussion.

In a column published in Canadian Contractor, Lyall acknowledged that governments have made meaningful progress on housing reform but cautioned that Canada remains a long way from resolving its affordability and supply challenges.

The broader impacts of the housing crisis were another major topic. In a column in the Toronto Sun, RESCON examined how the housing shortage is affecting the health, stability and overall well-being of Canadians. Similar themes were explored in a column published in RENX Homes, which highlighted research from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis showing a direct link between housing affordability and life satisfaction.

The same concerns were echoed in a column published on MSN.com, which noted that nearly one in three households in the Greater Toronto Area live in unaffordable housing, spending more than 30 per cent of their pre-tax income on shelter. The piece argued that the true cost of the housing crisis extends far beyond economics and can increasingly be measured through its impact on Canadians’ quality of life.

Another question examined at the summit was whether housing reforms are working. In a column for Real Estate Magazine, RESCON summarized the views of summit participants, who generally agreed that recent measures are producing results but emphasized that significantly more work remains to be done if governments hope to meet housing supply targets.

Tariffs troubles

Trade uncertainty also continued to loom over the residential construction sector. The ongoing tariff dispute between Canada and the United States remains a source of concern for builders and homebuyers alike.

In an article published by Plumbing & HVAC Magazine, RESCON discussed the findings of its report on the potential impact of tariffs on the cost of building new homes and the broader implications for housing affordability.

In a column in On-Site magazine, RESCON noted that escalating tariffs and counter-tariffs are taking a toll and driving up the cost of homeownership on both sides of the border.

The bottom line?

Meaningful progress is being made, but sustained commitment and continued reform will be essential if Canada is to solve its housing crisis and build enough homes for future generations.