Affordable Housing

At Canada Lands, we understand that the availability of affordable housing has been and continues to be an important topic for Canadians, and this is an important part of the work we do towards creating inclusive, vibrant and complete communities where everyone can thrive. 

To align with the ambitions of our Strategic Plan, we seek to exceed municipal requirements for affordable housing in our real estate developments, and in circumstances where a municipal standard is not established – Canada Lands seeks to go above and beyond by enabling a minimum of 20% of the residential units as affordable housing units. Since 1995, we’ve created more than 2,500 affordable housing units on our projects across the country, while thousands more units are planned.

Canada Lands is an active partner in the Federal Lands Initiative (FLI) alongside Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Employment and Social Development Canada. As part of the FLI, we’ve provided suitable lands at our active projects to enable affordable housing. For example, at our Wateridge Village property in the National Capital Region, a three-acre (1.2 hectare) plot of land was sold to Ottawa Community Housing to make way for the development of more than 270 affordable housing units, and in Calgary at Currie development Horizon Housing is planning to build 72 units.

Out west at our Heather lands property, we’re engaged in a joint-venture partnership with the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation (MST Partnership). As part of the redevelopment, our master plan concept that holds 2600 residential units will designate 23% of units to social housing and below-market rental housing and included another 12% of units as secured market rental.

More information on the latest affordable housing data can be found in our Corporate Social Responsibility Report and will also be available in future ESG Reports.