In a significant move by the Canadian government, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the extension of the ban on foreign homebuyers for an additional two years, pushing the expiration date to January 1, 2027. Initially enacted on January 1, 2023, and slated to end by 2025, the extension underscores Ottawa’s commitment to tackling the housing affordability crisis, albeit with mixed opinions from experts on its potential impact.
CIBC World Markets Inc.’s Deputy Chief Economist, Benjamin Tal, views the extension as a sensible policy measure, albeit not one with substantial macroeconomic effects. According to Tal, foreign buyers, often targeted by policies aiming to cool off the housing market, don’t significantly influence Canada’s housing dynamics to warrant a drastic change in affordability.
Echoing a similar sentiment, Mortgage Strategist Robert McLister criticized the policy for missing the mark on the root cause of the housing affordability issue. McLister pointed out the discrepancy between the influx of immigrants and the construction of new homes as the primary challenge, suggesting that the ban merely serves as a distraction rather than a solution. He also highlighted the potential economic downsides, such as lost tax revenue and impacts on wealth accumulation among Canadians who benefit from high-end real estate investments.
The Prohibition impacts foreign commercial entities and individuals who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents, preventing them from acquiring residential properties in Canada. This measure aims to prioritize Canadian families in the housing market, ensuring that homes serve as living spaces rather than speculative investments.
Statistics Canada data from 2021 reveals varying degrees of non-resident property ownership across urban centers, with Vancouver leading at 4.3%, followed by Charlottetown at 3.5%, and Toronto at 2.6%. The government’s stance is clear: to mitigate the speculative buying that has exacerbated affordability issues, particularly in major cities.
Violators of the ban face fines of up to $10,000, underscoring the government’s seriousness in enforcing the policy. Known officially as the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, this legislation is part of a broader effort to relieve the pressure on home prices amid escalating living costs and high interest rates that have made homeownership increasingly unattainable for many Canadians over the past decade.
