OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 16, 2026 /CNW/ - The Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) helps increase the supply of housing by cutting red tape and reducing local barriers to housing. In exchange for federal funding, Canadian communities commit to reforms, such as eliminating restrictive zoning, that will speed up housing over the long-term, and to growth targets demonstrating results.
Red Deer signed a HAF agreement with the federal government in February 2025. As of July 21, 2025, Red Deer has been found to be non-compliant with a mandatory requirement of the program's second funding round. As a result, the City's HAF agreement will be cancelled as of January 16, 2026, as their commitments have not been met.
Toronto signed a HAF agreement with the federal government in 2023. Toronto has been found to be non-compliant with their HAF agreement. As a result, the City's HAF funding will be reduced by $10 million as a commitment under the agreement has not been fully met.
Vaughan signed a HAF agreement with the federal government in 2023. Vaughan has been found to be non-compliant with their HAF agreement. As a result, the City's HAF funding will be reduced by $7.4 million as several commitments under the agreement have not been met.
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 the top performing HAF communities 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 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. This ranges from funding reductions for partially unmet commitments to full agreement cancellation where core obligations are not fulfilled.
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]
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