Regina highlights Government of Canada's Investments from Budget 2026: Masters of Our Destiny

REGINA, SK, Nov. 7, 2026 /CNW/ -- In a world reshaped by geopolitical competition, protectionism, and rapidly evolving technologies, Canada stands apart. Our abundant natural resources, clean and reliable energy, world-class talent, strong public finances, and access to global markets give us a clear competitive advantage.

We have the strength to build and the discipline to deliver.

These foundations are already translating into results: investment is growing, major projects are being built, and businesses are reaching new markets at home and abroad. Budget 2026 keeps Canada on a path to meet both fiscal anchors: balancing day-to-day operating spending with revenues by 2027-28, a full year ahead of schedule, and keeping the deficit-to-GDP ratio on a declining path.

Today, the federal government announced over $14.9 million in funding through Build Canada Homes and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Affordable Housing Fund to help build 48 secure, rental homes in Regina. Namerind Place, located at 1840 Lorne Street, the building will focus on providing affordable rental homes for Indigenous residents, specifically women and their children.

Namerind Place will include a mix of one-, two-and three-bedroom units, designed with flexibility to create a small number of larger units that will address the needs of multigenerational families. A range of tenant support services will also be offered, aimed at fostering long-term stability, financial wellbeing, and community connection among residents. Supports will include budgeting and financial literacy workshops, assistance accessing benefits and community resources, and periodic tenancy check-ins to ensure residents have the support they need to remain stable and secure in their housing.  The project will make extensive use of modern methods of construction (MMC), advancing Build Canada Homes' mandate of accelerating housing delivery through innovative, more efficient construction approaches.

The announcement was made by the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada alongside the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development and Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, Chad Bachinyski, Mayor of Regina and Robert Byers, President and Chief Executive Officer, Namerind Housing Corporation.

The Government of Canada is making the housing investments that will help strengthen Canadian supply chains and create good jobs at every step of the homebuilding process – helping to build more homes and a stronger Canadian economy at the same time.

Quotes:

"We are building a Canada where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home. Through Budget 2026, we are bringing the necessary supports together and making a significant, long-term investment to address homelessness across Canada. Here in Regina, projects like Namerind Place demonstrate how investments in affordable housing can provide safe, secure homes for Indigenous residents, particularly women and their children, while strengthening communities. By working with our provincial, municipal and community partners, we can make meaningful progress toward ending homelessness." – The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada

"Budget 2026 is delivering real investments in housing and infrastructure for Saskatchewan and for communities big and small, right across Canada. Here in Regina, the $15 million announced today to help build 48 new affordable homes for Indigenous women and families in Regina is another important example of that work." – The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development and Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, Saskatchewan

"For us at Namerind Housing Corporation, housing is about more than a roof over someone's head. It's about maintaining safe, affordable, quality housing, and the opportunity to build a better future. This investment will create homes for 48 families in our community, help transform and revitalize Regina's downtown core, and demonstrate what is possible when governments invest in Indigenous-led solutions. We thank the Government of Canada and Build Canada Homes for their partnership and commitment to advancing reconciliation through action." – Robert Byers, President and Chief Executive Officer Namerind Housing Corporation

"NICHI's $3 million investment was the final piece that helped bring everything together. It enabled Namerind to secure the broader funding needed to move the project forward, and without that investment, the project would not have started. The result will be 48 new homes for up to 168 people and another example of what Indigenous-led, For Indigenous, By Indigenous (FIBI) housing can achieve." – John Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, NICHI

Quick Facts:

Despite a challenging global environment, the Canadian economy has shown resilience:

• Canada's economy grew by 3.3% in the second quarter, the fastest pace in the G7.
• The IMF expects Canada to be the second-fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2027.
• Canada is expected to maintain one of the lowest deficit-to-GDP ratios in the G7, signalling fiscal strength and the capacity to invest in the future.
• More Canadians are benefiting from labour market strength. Over the past year, Canada's economy has added 214,000 jobs in private employment, while the unemployment rate has fallen to 6.5%, near its lowest level in two years.
• Since the end of 2024, Canada has also created nearly twice as many jobs per capita as the United States.
• Rising productivity is helping lay the foundation for stronger wage growth and higher living standards, with productivity increasing by 1.2% over the last year, compared with average growth of just 0.1% following the pandemic.
• Foreign direct investment in Canada is at its highest level in nearly two decades. Canada attracted $98 billion in foreign investment in 2025 and has led the G7 in direct investment inflows per capita since early 2025.  
• Canada has the lowest tax burden on new investment in the G7, encouraging businesses to invest, innovate, and grow in Canada.
• Nominal goods and services exports to countries other than the United States increased by $33 billion in 2025 and are on pace to rise by a further $57 billion in 2026, as more Canadian businesses reach new markets.
• Canada is the only G7 country with free trade agreements with every other G7 member. Through 15 agreements in force covering 51 countries, Canadian businesses already have preferential access to 1.5 billion consumers and economies representing two thirds of global GDP.  
• Measures to make life more affordable are working. The share of household income needed to cover housing costs has fallen by roughly a quarter, asking rents have dropped for two consecutive years, and the average cost of child care has fallen around 30% nationwide since 2019.
• The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) provided funding through low-interest and/or forgivable loans or contributions to partnered organizations for new affordable housing and the renovation and repair of existing, affordable and community housing. This was a $16.1 billion program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gave priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, Veterans, and young adults. The application portal for AHF is now closed as all funding has been committed.
  • As of June 2026, the Government of Canada has committed $15.83 billion to support the creation of over 61,922 units and the repair of over 173,560 units through the Affordable Housing Fund.
• On September 19, 2025, the Government of Canada announced $1.5 billion top-up in loans for the AHF's New Construction Stream, to support the creation of over 5,000 new units starting in 2025-26. Additionally, the AHF's Rapid Housing Sub-Stream will be accelerated, by pulling $385 million in funding from future years

• Funding provided for 1840 Lorne Street is as follows:
  • $11.8 million from the federal government, through the Affordable Housing Fund
  • $3.1 million from Build Canada Homes
  • $2 million from the City of Regina
  • $4.9 million in cash and land equity from Namerind Housing Corporation
  • $3 million from National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI)

Additional Information:

• Budget 2026: Masters of our destiny
• Spring Economic Update 2026: Canada Strong For All
• Technical Backgrounder: Government of Canada introduces the new Canada Strong Fund to give Canadians a stake in what we build
• Visit canada.ca/housing for the most-requested Government of Canada housing information. 
• Build Canada Homes is ready to partner with organizations committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing across Canada. Learn more about the portal and the Investment Policy Framework.
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is a federal Crown corporation and the foundation of Canada's housing system. For over 80 years, CMHC has supported the functioning of housing markets across the country through housing finance solutions -- including mortgage loan insurance and securitization -- while providing trusted, unbiased data, research and market intelligence to inform policy and decision making. Through its national presence, deep expertise in housing economics and finance, and a system-wide perspective, CMHC helps foster a more stable, well-functioning housing market that supports households, communities and the broader economy.

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SOURCE Government of Canada

Contacts: Jenna Ghassabeh, Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, [e-mail]; Media Relations, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [e-mail]