Alignment and ambition at Day on The Hill

On October 21, CAGBC hosted industry, public servants and parliamentarians – and came away encouraged by the clear alignment demonstrated for energy-efficient, sustainable and affordable homes for Canadians.

It was the fourth edition of the “Green Building Day on the Hill” event, a key advocacy initiative for CAGBC. More than 100 industry leaders, stakeholders, parliamentarians and policy makers attended, focused on exploring key issues facing Canada’s building sector: how to best address the housing crisis and how to unlock investment to accelerate industry decarbonization.  

CAGBC also unveiled the latest job and GDP numbers for the green building sector – the first update to its 2020 market research report. The numbers show that green building remains an economic engine for every region of Canada, contributing over half a million jobs and over $81 billion in GDP. You can read more about green building’s impact in our “Unlocking the value of green buildings” guide.

Through keynote presentations (by speaking order) from the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, CAGBC President and CEO Thomas Mueller, Member of Parliament Scott Aitchison, and Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions) – and two panel discussions, three clear trends emerged:

1. Canada’s housing challenge is also a significant opportunity for Canada’s economy. By tying sustainability to affordability and prioritizing Canadian innovation and materials, the building sector can build faster and better, create new skilled jobs, and cushion Canada’s economy – all while ensuring Canadians live in quality homes that are climate-ready, energy efficient, healthy and affordable in the long term.

2. Clarity and confidence in sustainability investments can help attract private investment to scale decarbonization and housing. Panel discussions explored how delivering on a Canadian green and transition taxonomy could provide the consistency and clarity needed to unlock capital, make sustainability investments easier to evaluate, and ensure Canada’s global competitiveness.

3. Partnerships drive innovation, and CAGBC is building a coalition of committed partners. Industry relies on credible standards and certification to drive outcomes, ensure transparency and accountability, and build the trust that investors, governments, and Canadians expect. Advancing programs and policies that will unlock the potential of Canada’s building sector requires collaboration between the private and public sectors – and CAGBC provides the platform where these conversations are happening and partnerships are actioned.

The collective call to action is clear. Aligning policy, capital, investment, and innovative construction practice and technology can ensure that every new home or building, and every retrofit contributes to Canada’s climate commitments and global competitiveness. Green Building delivers prosperity, resilience, and opportunity for all Canadians.

Thomas Mueller, President and CEO, CAGBC

CAGBC thanks our special guests, the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Parliamentary Secretary Ryan Turnbull, MP Scott Aitchison, and  panel participants Darryl Neate (Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC)), Gildas Poissonnier (Desjardins), Maya Saryyeva (Institute for Sustainable Finance), Jaime McKenna (Fengate Real Estate), Marlene Coffey (Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association), moderators Stéphan Déry (Canada Lands Company) and Jody Becker (CAGBC Board Chair, Greater Toronto Airports Authority).  

We would like also to thank all members of parliament, minister’s advisors and parliamentary staff who joined the green building leaders during the reception that followed Green Building Day on the Hill. In particular, we are grateful for Parliamentary Secretary Claude Guay, MP Gérard Deltell and MP Elizabeth May who provided some opening remarks.  

We also thank our Catalyst sponsors Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada, JLL and Introba, and the Green Building Day on the Hill event sponsors — Desjardins Group, Graham Construction, PCL, and Perkins & Will, as well as Pushpinder Rana (MESCA) for his kind words.