Build Canada Homes partners with Manitoba and Winnipeg to accelerate affordable housing delivery
Winnipeg, Manitoba, September 8, 2026 — Far too many Canadians are struggling to find homes they can afford. Solving Canada’s housing crisis requires immediate action to bring down costs, cut red tape, and build homes more quickly. The Government of Canada is stepping up with a bold new approach to build affordable housing across the country. We are focused on building great neighbourhoods that Canadians want to, and can afford to live in.
This approach includes the launch of Build Canada Homes (BCH), the federal government's dedicated agency to scale up the supply of affordable housing through partnerships that deliver more homes, faster, across Canada.
Today, the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, alongside the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, the Honourable Bernadette Smith, Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness and Scott Gillingham, Mayor of Winnipeg announced a new partnership between BCH, the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (MHRC), and the City of Winnipeg.
The partnership will support the delivery of at least 820 housing units including at least 740 affordable homes, helping address housing needs among low-income households, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, newcomers, veterans, and Indigenous communities.
Through the partnership, BCH will provide up to $104.7 million in funding alongside up to $21.3 million in provincial capital funding plus $52 million in provincial operating funding for supportive and transitional housing; and up to $22.1 million in municipal capital funding and up to $22.3 million in municipal tax increment financing. Combined with approximately $196 million from third-party financing, including federal housing programs, non-profit and private partners, the partnership is expected to unlock more than $400 million in housing investments.
The partnership also supports BCH's objective of strengthening Canada's community housing sector. The portfolio prioritizes projects led by non-profit, Indigenous, and other mission-driven housing organizations, helping preserve long-term affordability and ensuring homes remain affordable for future generations.
The Manitoba-Winnipeg agreement reflects BCH's growing portfolio-based approach to housing delivery. Rather than supporting projects individually, BCH is working with provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to build stronger pipelines of housing opportunities that attract investment, improve coordination, and accelerate housing delivery at scale. With this announcement, BCH has established 18 housing partnerships across Canada.
The Government of Canada is making the housing investments that will help strengthen Canadian supply chains and create good jobs at every step of the homebuilding process — helping to build more homes and a stronger Canadian economy at the same time.
Quotes
“Building more homes faster is one of the most important things we can do to make life more affordable for Canadians, and it goes hand in hand with investing in the infrastructure communities need to grow. This new partnership with the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg will help cut the costs of building, unlock new housing supply, and get shovels in the ground sooner. By working together with the province and the city, we’re making it easier to build the homes Manitobans need, while creating good jobs and supporting strong, growing communities.”
— The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
“Investing in affordable and supportive housing is foundational to stability and wellbeing for families and communities. Through this historic partnership, we are taking decisive action alongside Indigenous and local leaders to expand housing supply, create good jobs, and build Manitoba Strong.”
— The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
“Our government has been making generational investments into building housing for Manitobans, and this new project will build over 821 new homes across our great province,” said Smith. “It takes all levels of government and partnerships across our country to make the changes we want to see, and this is an example of the good work we are doing together on behalf of all Manitobans.”
— The Honourable Bernadette Smith, Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness
“Winnipeg is building more homes than ever, and we’re leading Canada’s major cities in year-over-year growth in housing starts. This partnership will help us build on that success by delivering hundreds of new affordable homes for people who need them most. It’s another example of what we can accomplish when all three levels of government work together, combine our investments and stay focused on getting more housing built.”
— Scott Gillingham, Mayor of Winnipeg
"This partnership demonstrates the power of aligning governments around a shared housing plan. By bringing together federal, provincial, and municipal investments behind a coordinated portfolio of projects, we are creating a clearer path from project identification to project delivery. The result is a stronger pipeline of affordable housing opportunities, greater certainty for housing providers, and more capacity to deliver the homes communities need."
— Ana Bailão, CEO, Build Canada Homes
Quick facts
- Build Canada Homes, the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation, and the City of Winnipeg have partnered to support the delivery of at least 820 housing units in Winnipeg and Swan River.
- The partnership includes a target of at least 100 homes utilizing Modern Methods of Construction MMC.
- BCH, Manitoba, and Winnipeg will establish an Implementation Table to coordinate investments, advance projects, and support future housing opportunities. Projects remain subject to due diligence, approvals, and project-specific agreements.
About Build Canada Homes
Build Canada Homes is a federal Crown corporation with the mandate to scale up the supply of affordable housing across Canada. By leveraging public lands, deploying flexible financial tools, and acting as a catalyst for modern methods of construction, Build Canada Homes is driving a more productive and innovative homebuilding sector.
Contacts
For more information (media only), please contact:
Arianna Durgerian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
[email protected]
Build Canada Homes
[email protected]
Bch-mc.ca