The Canadian home-building industry is facing the biggest challenges in its history -- challenges that are eroding affordability for all Canadians -- challenges that must be addressed and the right time to address them is right now.
That's the message the new president of the Canadian Home Builders Association, Dave Benbow, delivered in his inaugural address at the annual CHBA conference last weekend at Lake Louise.
The message was clearly aimed at the federal government as Benbow, taking the torch from his predecessors, called for "smart government" when it comes to housing.
"Without a smart approach, government actions are often contradictory and counter-productive and all too often regulation is the first response, rather than the last resort," said Benbow, adding an unfocused and unco-ordinated approach is a barrier to effective public/private collaboration. "And, it holds back the real, practical solutions to many of the housing challenges we face as a nation."
The CHBA has for years called for the development of a national housing strategy and Benbow once again challenged the government to initiate such a program.
"It would ensure that the federal government applies a "housing lens" to its actions and initiatives," he said.
"The development of a national housing strategy will ultimately benefit government, industry and consumers alike. And the right time to do this is right now."
The housing lens should focus first on the GST, said Benbow.
"We welcome the government's commitment to lowering the GST from seven percent to five percent," he said. "As Prime Minister Harper has pointed out, on a $200,000 new home, the reduction of the GST rate to five percent, combined with the GST rebate, will result in a $4,000 saving to the homebuyer."
However, when the GST was introduced, the government of the day promised to index the rebate thresholds.
