Question Period Note: Housing

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About

Reference number:
PSPC-2025-QP-00009
Date received:
Mar 13, 2025
Organization:
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Name of Minister:
Duclos, Jean-Yves (Hon.)
Title of Minister:
Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Issue/Question:

Budget 2024 communicated the Government’s intent to launch the Public Lands for Homes Plan under the leadership of the former Minister of Public Services and Procurement with the support of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

Suggested Response:

  • The Government of Canada recognizes the significant affordability challenges faced by many Canadians and in response is taking proactive steps to address the housing crisis by making public lands available for the development of affordable housing
    • This initiative is part of a broader effort to build more homes quickly and meet the needs of a growing population
    • We launched the Canada Public Land Bank in August of last year, which now lists 90 properties (collectively representing nearly 42,000 housing units)
    • 14 of these properties have been brought to market already, with 12 evaluations underway

Background:

In support of Budget 2024 initiatives, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is collaborating with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Canada Lands Company (CLC) on the National Housing Strategy.

In August 2024, PSPC launched Canada’s Public Landbank, an interactive geospatial map the presents surplus and underused federal properties deemed suitable for housing. As of February 2025, the Canada Public Landbank listed 90 properties, representing approximately 42,000 housing units. Of the Landbank properties, 14 have been brought to market (12 CLC and two NCC) with 12 evaluations currently underway.

Budget 2024 also provided $500 million to PSPC to establish a Public Lands Acquisition Fund which would allow the Department to purchase land from other orders of government. Work is underway with Provinces, Territories and Municipalities to inform the development of this program.

Furthermore, PSPC is scaling-up its centre of expertise on disposals and is accelerating the disposal of federal assets that are declared surplus and continues to assess underutilized properties for housing development potential.

Additional Information:

The Planaims to unlock 250,000 units by 2031 by leveraging surplus and underutilized public land across the country