Ottawa, ON – Scott Aitchison, Conservative Shadow Minister for Housing, issued the following statement on the latest data from Statistics Canada showing worsening housing affordability:
“Conservatives will save you money on a home by cutting taxes, speeding up permits and getting more homes built.
“Today’s report shows that 23.2 per cent of Canadian households lived in unaffordable housing in 2024, spending at least 30 per cent of their income on shelter. That’s up from 22 per cent in 2022. More than one in four households reported financial difficulties because their rent or mortgage payments had risen over the previous year.
“That means less money left for groceries, gas and saving for the future. Canadians work hard, but too much of their paycheque disappears just keeping a roof over their heads.
“The Canadian promise was simple: work hard and you could afford a home. After 11 years of Liberal government, that promise is broken.
“And the failures continue. Housing starts in urban centres fell nearly 4 per cent over the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year. Canadians need homes they can afford. Mark Carney offers more bureaucracy.
“Every tax on a new home, every costly permit delay and every government fee gets added to the bill you pay.
“Conservatives will permanently scrap the GST on new homes up to $1.3 million, saving homebuyers up to $65,000. That is money you could put towards a smaller mortgage and lower monthly payments.
“We will push municipalities to halve development charges, speed up permits and free up land. Cut the cost of building so you can afford to buy.
“Mark Carney must adopt our plan to get homes built and bring costs down. Canadians deserve to get the keys to a home of their own, with enough money left to build a life inside it.
“The Liberals are costing you money. Conservatives will save you money and restore the promise of a home you can afford.”