The British Columbia government led by NDP Premier David Eby is now spurring construction of 150% more housing units per resident than Doug Ford’s PC government in Ontario, according to data from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

An analysis of CMHC data for March 2024 shows construction started on 87.2 new housing units in British Columbia per 100,000 people. In Ontario, only 34.9 units were started per 100,000 people.

In March 2024, trades workers in British Columbia started projects expected to result in 4,867 new housing units. In Ontario, workers began work on just 5,522 units, despite Ontario’s population of 15.8 million compared to 5.8 million residents of BC.

Adding supply to the housing market is viewed as a significant way to meet housing demand at a time of growing population and preventing upward pressures of housing price.

Ontario PCs falling far short of housing needs

In 2022, Ontario’s Housing Affordability Task Force reported the Ontario construction sector would need to build 1.5 million homes by 2031 to bring market balance and an end to rapidly rising prices.

That requirement works out to 12,500 housing units per month. Despite many PC government bills, photo ops and press releases, the number of units started in Ontario has not once reached 12,500 and the trendline is down. The 5,522 units started in March 2024 is seven per cent lower than in March 2023.

British Columbia housing starts grew seven per cent between March 2024 and March 2023.

PC’s failing jobs promise to construction unions creates political opportunity

In Ontario’s 2022 election, several building trades unions gave enthusiastic support to the PCs on Ford’s promise to meet the Task Force goals and give more job opportunities for workers in the residential construction sector. These endorsements were a major blow to the Ontario NDP, usually considered the labour party.

Given the Ford PCs’ inability to hit promised goals and the sharp contrast with booming jobs in the sector under the BC NDP, an new appeal by the Ontario New Democrats aiming to win trades support might have resonance.

Many Ontario building trades unions operate sophisticated skills training centres with generous financial assistance from the Ontario government. These centres recruit members, run apprenticeship programs and place workers into jobs. However, a BC-scale push for housing construction would likely require additional skilled workers and additional financial support to trades training centres.