MONTREAL, Oct. 28, 2026 /CNW/ -- Far too many Canadians are struggling to find homes they can afford. Solving Canada's housing crisis requires immediate action to bring down costs, cut red tape, and build homes more quickly. The Government of Canada is stepping up with a bold new approach to build affordable housing across the country.
The Housing Design Catalogue is part of a broader set of measures introduced by the federal government to double the rate of housing construction, restore affordability, and reduce homelessness. The Catalogue supports standardization in the housing sector, and local governments are key to unlocking that potential, through a library of over 50 pre-approved low-rise housing plans to accelerate "gentle density" nationwide that's free to use for all Canadians. The designs take into consideration the different building requirements across Canada and were developed by regional architecture and engineering teams. The Catalogue includes dedicated designs for Quebec developed by KANVA Architecture based in Montréal.
Today, Caroline Desrochers, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, and Caroline Braun, Head of Housing and Urban Planning with the City of Montréal's Executive Committee, announced that City supports the Quebec housing plans available through the Housing Design Catalogue. To help accelerate housing development in the region, the City is working with its boroughs to incorporate these standardized designs into their land use regulations. This strategic initiative aims to streamline the implementation of residential projects, reduce construction costs, and expedite the municipal permitting process.
Work continues across Canada to encourage awareness and use of the Housing Design Catalogue. 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:
"Today, we are building a stronger Canada by working with municipalities to address housing needs. Montréal is a key partner in this effort. By working together, we can accelerate residential construction and help more people access affordable housing." – Caroline Desrochers, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Member of Parliament for Trois-Rivières
"The Housing Design Catalogue is a practical tool tailored to Montréal's realities. By providing standardized housing designs, it offers an additional way to build faster, better, and at lower cost." – Caroline Braun, Head of Housing and Urban Planning with the City of Montréal's Executive Committee
Quick Facts:
- Homeowners, builders, and communities interested in receiving updates can sign up on the Housing Design Catalogue webpage. View the Quebec-specific housing designs and technical packages available for download.
- Users are responsible for hiring a locally qualified professional, like a licensed architect, engineer or designer, to adapt the designs and make sure they meet all applicable laws including local bylaws and building codes.
- The full technical design packages launched in October 2025 consist of architectural and engineering drawings and specifications, including accessible-ready and enhanced-accessible layouts, energy reporting documents and templates, building performance reports, and a user guide. Regional construction cost summaries and guidance on climate resilience and material selection are also now available. The designs cover all regions of the country: British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island), and the Northern territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut). Designs were developed by regional architecture and engineering teams, and focus on creating gentle density and infill development in existing neighbourhoods in all regions of the country.
- The federal government is drawing inspiration from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)'s post-war housing design catalogues developed between the 1940s and 1970s.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will continue to deliver on its mandate to contribute to the well-being of Canada's housing system through existing programs such as the Apartment Construction Loan Program and Mortgage Loan Insurance products.
Additional Information:
- 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 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Contacts: Jenna Ghassabeh, Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [email protected]
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