Housing Policy for a Growing Canada
In-Person Conference
Sponsored by:
As housing prices remain high due to significant demand and low availability – and with the resulting pressures on rental markets – policymakers face a series of difficult questions. Namely, how can we break through the barriers and build the homes we urgently need? What financing models and productivity improvements can help meet demand? And how can the public and private sectors collaborate to accelerate development? The C.D. Howe Institute is hosting a conference, Housing Policy for a Growing Canada, which will bring together top industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to address these critical questions and explore actionable solutions to Canada’s housing crisis.
Join us on Thursday, November 14, for a day of in-depth discussions, featuring a wide range of prominent speakers and a keynote address by Coleen Volk, CEO of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. From topics that range from land supply and zoning to financing and labour, our expert panels will examine these issues and propose practical reforms.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with key decision-makers and thought leaders shaping the future of housing in Canada!
To register - please click here.
Member Price $199
Welcoming Remarks - What Type of Housing do we Need?
Speakers
- William B.P. Robson, President & Chief Executive Officer, C.D. Howe Institute
- Jean Lamirande, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Session I – The Challenges: Land, Permits, Processes, and Zoning
Key themes:
- What are the primary barriers to the construction of new homes, and how can they be overcome?
- Is the approval of permits and rezoning processes a major impediment to housing development?
- Is supply mis-aligned with housing demand? Further, what are the challenges in balancing the need for new housing with concerns about density and infrastructure?
Moderator:
• Howard Paskowitz, Vice President, Development, Starlight Investments
Speakers:
- Adrian Rocca, Chief Executive Officer, Fitzrovia
- R. Jason Ashdown, Co-Founder & Chief Sustainability Officer, Skyline Group of Companies
- Gregg Lintern, Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division, City of Toronto 2017 - 2023
Session II – The Options: Financing, Productivity, and Labour
Key themes:
- How can we sustain and scale financing to better match supply with demand? How can we ensure that infrastructure development keeps up with the demand for housing? How does uncertainty with regards to future population forecasts create risks for new housing development?
- What role can a variety of procurement methods play in supporting high value-added projects in housing construction? How can developers or public-private partnerships help to meet housing demands?
- How can we tackle productivity challenges in the construction industry to expedite housing projects? Can we expand training efforts, red seal certifications, and other options to increase the supply of construction workers in the labour force?
Moderator:
• Parisa Mahboubi, Senior Policy Analyst, C.D. Howe Institute
Speakers:
- Lisa Raitt, Vice-Chair, Global Investment Banking, CIBC Capital Markets
- Ehren Cory, Chief Executive Officer, Canada Infrastructure Bank
- Marlon Bray, Executive Vice President, Clark Construction Management
Keynote Lunch – Putting it all together
Moderator:
• Colin Busby, Director, Policy Engagement, C.D. Howe Institute
Speaker:
- Coleen Volk, Chief Executive Officer, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Session III – The Solutions: What Do All Orders of Government Need to Do?
Key themes:
- What reforms are required to address the most critical issues currently facing Canada’s housing markets?
- What are the roles for each order of government, and how should federal, provincial, and municipal governments collaborate?
- How can the federal programs (i.e. the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, the Housing Accelerator Fund, Canada Public Transit Fund, etc.) reduce regulatory barriers and speed up the right type of construction?
Moderator
- Peter Weltman, Director, Technomics Inc.
Speakers:
- Mathieu Bélanger, Executive Director of Public Policy and Public Affairs, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
- Murtaza Haider, Professor of Data Science and Real Estate Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Janice Myers, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Real Estate Association
Concluding Remarks
- Colin Busby, Director, Policy Engagement, C.D. Howe Institute
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