An employee works on a modular home component in Calgary last month.聽Canada has a world-leading forestry industry, but a fledgling wood manufacturing industry making prefabricated building components, the authors write.
An employee works on a modular home component in Calgary last month.聽Canada has a world-leading forestry industry, but a fledgling wood manufacturing industry making prefabricated building components, the authors write.
David Constable and Tim Blair founded Heartwood Trust to allow investors access to a new generation of climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable multi-residential rental housing from construction to long-term ownership. They also co-founded and lead Kindred Works.
Luckily, there are still no tariffs on good ideas, because in this moment of profound economic volatility, we鈥檝e never needed fresh thinking on responsible investing in Canada more urgently. If we are going to build a stronger country, we believe it starts with building stronger cities 鈥 and that means all parties and sectors working together to crack the housing crisis. As Prime Minister Mark Carney put it in his recent postelection press conference, we need to face failures in the housing sector head on and, more fundamentally, 鈥渨e need to build.鈥
Responding to the trade war, supporting manufacturing, fighting climate change and addressing the cost of living are each monumental challenge on their own. Solutions seem far too enormous or too small in scale to work.
This is where housing comes in. Rather than a problem, we need to reframe housing as one of our greatest opportunities to address the challenges of the day. Housing presents a unique chance to revitalize and advance the Canadian supply chain, increase internal trade and tackle the challenges of a changing climate 鈥 all while providing a much-needed supply of housing at scale. But it will require an all-hands-on-deck, non-partisan mindset, and a deep public and private commitment to streamlining processes and removing unnecessary barriers, to create the momentum we need.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Building homes that are affordably sustainable, and sustainably affordable, makes more sense now than ever. Building them with Canadian technology, Canadian workers, Canadian manufacturing, and Canadian resources is smart and cost effective.
And this starts with smarter design. Architecture with a smaller carbon footprint that integrates local materials and manufacturing, low-energy use, and resilient construction saves builders and users money now and into the future while supporting broader industry growth and innovation.
Canada has a world-leading forestry industry, but a fledgling wood manufacturing industry making prefabricated building components. This is an enormous opportunity. Canada could be a world leader in prefabricated tall timber buildings 鈥 all the pieces are poised. Meeting the prefabricated aspirations Carney鈥檚 government has put forward will require collaboration on a massive scale; however, the result would be naturally beautiful, low-carbon buildings that help establish value-add manufacturing in the Canadian forestry industry. It would be a win for investors, a win for workers, and a win for people living in those homes.
Canada鈥檚 unique climate has taught us to build differently than much of the world. We鈥檝e cultivated an expertise that places us at the forefront of understanding what buildings can do for people; and the world is beginning to recognize it. There is evidence of this expertise and ingenuity right across the country, from triple-glazed window manufacturers to abundant geothermal heating and cooling right below our feet. Our country needs more Canadian housing innovation, and the world does, too.
Building a new generation of responsible housing where Canadians can live, work and play with more density on existing transit corridors works better when developments incorporate a mix of unit formats for multiple family sizes, accessible units for diverse needs, and natural landscaping and community spaces programmed so residents and neighbours can gather. The goal is to build vertical neighbourhoods intelligently and sensitively integrated into existing communities.
This is one way to respond to a global trade war, to address climate change, and set Canada up for a resilient future. It also makes life more attainable for young Canadians and a population that鈥檚 aging.
Again, there are no tariffs on ideas, and we are well past the point of partisanship on the issue. Canada has the resources, the talent and the need to direct the housing industry towards building cleaner, stronger cities and a more resilient economy. What鈥檚 required is the will among all sectors, parties and levels of government to work together to make it happen. We鈥檝e allowed blame and finger-pointing to stall progress for too long. It鈥檚 time to make housing a true Team Canada project.
David Constable and Tim Blair founded Heartwood Trust to allow investors access to a new generation of climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable multi-residential rental housing from construction to long-term ownership. They also co-founded and lead Kindred Works.
Opinion articles are based on the author鈥檚 interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
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