Access to affordable housing is critical to the health, well-being, and economic prosperity of every community in Canada.

Availability of housing translates into the economic and social benefits of being able to support labour mobility and student populations, increase affordable homeownership, and meet the needs of the aging population as well as middle and low income earners. The housing sector, including rental and construction, makes up 20 per cent of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Achieving affordability is inextricably linked to all aspects of the housing system — from homeownership, to renting, to social housing, to homelessness. All orders of government must provide purposeful stewardship through economic, social and fiscal policy, to both facilitate an effective system and, in the case of system failure, to help manage any undesirable consequences.