Enhancing Housing Opportunities and Affordability Across Alberta
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED that Alberta Municipalities advocate to the Government of Alberta to undertake fundamental policy changes aimed at improving access to a diverse range of housing options and enhancing housing affordability across the province through, but not limited to:
- Streamlining Regulations and Reducing Red Tape: Conducting a comprehensive review of provincial policies, regulations, and application processes related to housing development to identify and eliminate unnecessary barriers and inefficiencies, thereby accelerating project timelines and reducing costs.
- Enhancing the New Home Buyer Protection Act: Actively reviewing and updating the New Home Buyer Protection Act and its regulations, including the new home buyers' warranty program, to address identified shortcomings, prevent circumvention, and ensure robust protection for homebuyers across all municipalities. This review should include consideration of the financial stability and accountability of warranty providers.
- Improving the Safety Codes System: Examining the availability and accessibility of qualified safety codes officers across the province and exploring potential legislative, process (i.e. remote inspections) or regulatory amendments to ensure timely and consistent inspections, regardless of a municipality's size or location.
- Re-evaluating Funding Models for Affordable and Seniors' Housing: Conducting a thorough and ongoing review of existing funding formulas for affordable housing and seniors' housing to ensure equitable access for all municipalities, regardless of size, and to better align funding with the diverse housing needs of communities across Alberta. This review should consider the unique challenges and opportunities faced by smaller communities.
WHEREAS the escalating costs associated with residential construction are significantly impacting the feasibility and affordability of housing development throughout Alberta;
WHEREAS a growing demand exists across Alberta for a diverse range of housing options, encompassing affordable housing, market housing, and seniors' housing, which is not being adequately met;
WHEREAS existing policies, regulations, and funding models can inadvertently create barriers and inefficiencies in the development of much-needed housing, particularly in smaller municipalities;
WHEREAS ensuring the safety and quality of new homes through consistent and readily available safety code inspections is crucial for building confidence and protecting homebuyers; and
WHEREAS the current New Home Buyer Protection Act and its associated warranty program may have shortcomings and potential avenues for circumvention, requiring thorough review and strengthening of the Act.
Housing has always been an issue across the province. With all the current changes in the political landscape creating housing opportunities has become a challenge for municipalities. The goal of this resolution is to provide an open-ended resolution that will allow Alberta Municipalities to be proactive in their approach to meeting housing needs within the province.
Government Response
The Government of Alberta reported continued progress on housing supply, with record levels of residential construction and significant growth in housing starts across major municipalities. The ministry is pursuing measures to reduce red tape and streamline development processes, including reviewing permit timelines, building code requirements, and the off-site levy framework. Legislative changes and stakeholder engagement efforts have focused on increasing housing affordability, accelerating approvals, and supporting innovative housing options. The province has also introduced enhanced consumer protections for new homebuyers and committed additional funding for affordable and seniors' housing, while exploring reforms to lodge funding to improve fairness for municipalities.
ABmunis’ Rating of the Government’s Response
Intent partially met - further action will be taken at a medium level of engagement.
ABmunis’ Notes and Actions
ABmunis considers the resolution partially addressed as the Government of Alberta’s response demonstrates progress on reducing regulatory barriers, increasing housing supply, amending the New Home Buyer Protection Act, and investing in affordable and seniors’ housing. However, key elements remain unresolved, including warranty provider accountability, access to qualified safety codes officers, the use of remote inspections, and a broader review of housing funding models to ensure equitable access for municipalities of all sizes. Further advocacy will be conducted on these outstanding issues, particularly those affecting smaller and rural municipalities.