Cost to Construct a New Home Policy

Here are a few recommendations each level of government can take to positively impact the cost of construction a new home:

Ensure local zoning, permits and approval process are efficient and do not add significant costs due to delays;
Take every step possible to limit the impact of fees and development standards on the cost of building new housing. Incorporate Cost Benefit Analysis when making significant changes to Development Standards and Construction Specs;
Ensure your Housing Strategies and Official Community Plans address market-rate affordability. If more people and families are able to join the middle class because of market rate affordability, then more people will not sliding down the housing continuum into subsidized social housing need.

Reconsider your strategy on Provincial Sales Tax on newly built houses and the cost of a serviced lot;
Ensure no new Development Taxes are burdened on new families who want to purchase a new home; and
As part of the Gov’t of Sask ‘Prairie Resilience Plan’, unleash private sector and individual capital to invest in the energy efficiency and alternative energy solutions like solar on both existing and new homes.

Do No More to Mortgage Rules to further lock-out homebuyers –the economic impact is sever. Seek less blunt measures in the Future;
Ensure Infrastructure Investment is focused on core infrastructure;
Ensure Code Changes provide good return on investment. New housing construction standards in Canada are already excellent. Canada can continue to build even better homes, but innovation is needed to do so without adding cost; and
Invest in innovation and R&D for lower cost solutions to ensure we met broader goals without eroding affordability for policy goals such as:
- Energy efficiency
- Climate Change Adaption/Resiliency
- Accessibility/Visitability
- Health & Safety (i.e. fire safety)

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