The 2024 numbers are in, and it was another underwhelming year for housing starts. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports that last year there were 228,000 housing starts in Canada. This compares to 249,000 homes in 1972.

Despite every kind of tax imaginable—speculation, empty homes, foreign buyers–and billions spent on new housing programs by government, Canada has been unable to build more homes and thereby reduce, or limit the increases, in the cost of homes.

The problems are in plain sight. While there is much talk about a “crisis” in housing by all levels of government, there is an appalling lack of collaboration between them. Red tape and over regulation have slowed the building of new homes to the point where supply cannot keep pace with demand. Compounding the challenge of building more homes faster, the endless taxes, fees, levies and charges layered on new housing by local governments have pushed prices to depressing levels for first time home buyers.

Practical, common-sense solutions to this never-ending crisis are in short supply.

However, Delta’s mayor and council deserve credit for exploring a policy change that could provide some relief to homebuilders. Delta is considering a shift to collecting development cost charges (DCCs) on project completion rather than upfront. This is more important than it may seem at first........

© BIV