Prime Minister Carney Unveils Major Ottawa Housing Initiatives

December 8, 2025: Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a sweeping series of initiatives for the City of Ottawa today, outlining new federal investments designed to accelerate housing construction.

Standing alongside Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Carney framed the announcement as part of a broader national economic strategy responding to global instability and disruptions in international trade. “The world has changed, and so Canada’s economic strategy must change,” he said. “We’re building Ottawa strong and building Canada strong.”

3,000 New Homes Through Historic Housing Partnership

The centrepiece of the announcement is a landmark partnership between the federal government’s new Build Canada Homes agency and the City of Ottawa that aims to deliver up to 3,000 new mixed-income and affordable homes beginning in 2026.

Backed by a joint federal–municipal investment of $400 million, the agreement includes:

• 2,000 units on federally owned land, fast-tracked by the City of Ottawa through reduced or waived development charges, permit fees, and property taxes.

• 1,000 additional affordable units supported through Build Canada Homes financing and drawn from the City’s existing project pipeline.

• Streamlined permitting and accelerated development timelines to get homes built more quickly.

The projects will prioritize Canadian construction materials under the government’s new Buy Canadian Policy, with particular emphasis on domestic lumber. Officials say the approach will both reduce supply-chain vulnerabilities and create well-paying jobs in the region.

Mayor Sutcliffe called the agreement “a historic investment in our city,” adding: “We’re working together to make Ottawa safer, more reliable, and more affordable for everyone.”