Released before 53 minutes
To reduce construction costs, APCHQ proposes improving GST reimbursement for new houses and completely exempting the construction of public and affordable housing from the tax. (Photo: The Canadian Press)
The “historic national housing crisis” requires action on several fronts at the same time: increasing housing affordability, lowering construction costs, extending the maximum amortization period on mortgages, and better funding for public housing.
And everyone has to get behind the wheel: the federal government, the states and the municipalities.
As the country’s housing crisis is the focus of federal government discussions, the Association of Quebec Construction and Housing Professionals (APCHQ) is proposing a number of measures to ease the pressure.
To reduce construction costs, APCHQ proposes, among other things, improving the GST refund for new houses and completely exempting the construction of public housing and affordable housing from the tax.
In order to promote access to property, the association also recommends increasing the maximum repayment period for mortgage loans from 30 to 35 years in order to reduce monthly payments.
Likewise, APCHQ proposes better funding for the construction and renovation of social housing and affordable housing.
According to the association, in order to meet the expected demand, the pace of residential construction is to be doubled, while this is currently experiencing a slowdown.
Lia Levesque, The Canadian Press
Incurable food practitioner. Tv lover. Award-winning social media maven. Internet guru. Travel aficionado.
;Composite=(type=URL,url=https://images.radio-canada.ca/v1/assets/elements/16x9/outdated-content-2013.png),gravity=SouthEast,placement=Over,location=(0,0),scale=1)
