Update on the Housing Accelerator Fund Agreements for Charlottetown, Markham and Miramichi

OTTAWA, ON, April 2, 2026 /CNW/ - The Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) helps increase the supply of housing by encouraging the end of restrictive zoning and speeding up permitting. Participating communities developed and proposed Housing Action Plans that will increase housing supply in exchange for federal funding. Municipalities submit annual reports to update the status of the action plan initiatives.

Upon completion of the annual review, the following decisions have been made:  

Charlottetown, PEI: Charlottetown signed its HAF agreement with the federal government in January 2024. As part of the annual review of its Housing Action Plan, Charlottetown has been found to be non-compliant with its HAF commitments resulting in a reduction of 50% ($1.26 million) to its third HAF installment.

Markham, ON: Markham signed its HAF agreement with the federal government in January 2024. As part of the annual review of its Housing Action Plan, Markam has been found to be non-compliant with its HAF commitments resulting in a reduction of 50% ($7.36 million) to its third HAF installment. The federal government expects Markham to propose actions they will take to meet their commitments.

Miramichi, NB: Miramichi signed its HAF agreement with the federal government in February 2025. As part of the annual review process, Miramichi has been found to be non-compliant with a mandatory requirement of the program's second funding round resulting in the termination of its agreement.

The HAF application process was highly competitive with more than 540 applications received in total and 241 agreements signed.

Only the most ambitious applications were successful and many of those applicants have met or exceeded the ambition of their HAF agreements. Funding from reductions and cancelled agreements will be made available to local governments who choose to launch new initiatives, adding to their HAF agreements and building permit targets, to further increase the supply of housing in their communities.

Thanks to the reforms Canadian cities and towns are implementing under the Housing Accelerator Fund, in just the first year, local governments who received funding issued 160,585 residential building permits, 22,000 more than expected.

Quote:

"Our government is committed to removing barriers and cutting red tape to enable more housing development in communities across Canada. We are also committed to demonstrating the results of the Housing Accelerator Fund and being transparent, while maintaining the integrity of agreements, as we work to build more homes across Canada."

-- The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada

Quick facts: 

• Since its launch in March 2023, a total of $4.37 billion in funding has been committed through HAF to help cut red tape and fast track new homes for people in towns, cities, and Indigenous communities across the country. 
• Local governments estimate HAF funding will lead to the creation of over 750,000 new homes for people in towns, cities, and in Indigenous communities across Canada over the next decade. 
• Compliance outcomes under the Housing Accelerator Fund vary based on the nature and severity of non-compliance. These range from funding reductions for partially unmet commitments to full agreement cancellation where core obligations are not fulfilled.
• Progress on the individual agreements of the HAF can be found here. Data will be updated in May 2026.

Additional Information:

• Visit canada.ca/housing for the most-requested Government of Canada housing information.
• Follow CMHC on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. 
• Housing Accelerator Fund | CMHC

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

Media contacts: Renée LeBlanc Proctor, Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, [email protected]; Media Relations: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [email protected]