Question Period Note: Build Canada Homes Act (Bill C-20)

Legislation to establish Build Canada Homes as a Crown corporation

• The Build Canada Homes Act is a major milestone in the Government’s plan to build more homes, faster, and help ensure every Canadian has an affordable place to live. It will establish Build Canada Homes as a Crown corporation, following its initial status as a Special Operating Agency within Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.

• The legislation provides Build Canada Homes with the powers and financial tools to deliver its mandate of increasing affordable housing supply across Canada.

• The Act also enables the transfer of key elements from Canada Lands Company Limited to Build Canada Homes to develop and construct housing on public lands.

• As the Act makes its way through the legislative review process, Build Canada Homes will continue to deliver on investments to improve housing affordability in Canada and boost the homebuilding sector through modern methods of construction.

• Build Canada Homes (BCH) was launched as a Special Operating Agency within Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada in September 2025. At the time, it was announced that BCH would evolve as a standalone entity.

• Budget 2025 announced an initial investment of $13 billion over five years (on a cash basis), starting in 2025-26 for BCH. Of this amount, there is a contribution of capital of up to $1.515 billion to Canada Lands Company Limited (CLCL) to support housing construction on properties held by the corporation. Budget 2025 also announced the government’s intention to introduce legislation establishing the final organizational form of BCH.

• The Build Canada Homes Act establishes BCH as a Crown corporation. The purpose of BCH is to promote, support and develop the supply of affordable housing in Canada and to promote innovative and efficient building techniques in the housing construction sector in Canada. Among other things, the Act:

  • sets out the powers and functions of BCH and its governance framework;
  • authorizes the Minister of Finance to make payments out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to fund the operations and activities of BCH; and
  • provides that the Governor in Council may transfer to BCH any Crown corporation property, rights, interests, or obligations and may issue directives vis-a-vis the reorganization of CLCL or any of its subsidiaries.

• As a Crown corporation, BCH will be added to Part I of Schedule III to the Financial Administration Act. Unless otherwise specified in the Build Canada Homes Act, Part X of the Financial Administration Act, which governs Crown corporations, applies.

• The Act will come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.

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