CAGBC submits recommendations for the 2025 pre-budget consultation Standing Committee on Finance

Canada is at a crossroads. With a worsening housing crisis, economic shifts, and growing pressure from global markets—especially the United States—sustainable buildings are part of the affordability solution. Like every year, CAGBC submitted recommendations for the pre-budget consultation organized by the Committee on Finance of the House of Commons. Together, these recommendations offer a roadmap for transforming Canada’s built environment. They support economic growth, attract investment, and keep Canada’s competitiveness, while ensuring that public and private resources deliver durable value in the face of affordability, energy and climate challenges.

1 – To prioritize sustainability requirements for affordable housing, the government should

Ensure Build Canada Homes and Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. (CMHC) include strong, scalable objectives and requirements that enhance existing sustainable building standards to deliver affordable, low-carbon, energy efficient and resilient purpose-built rental and non-market housing.

2 – To crowd in private investment in the commercial real estate sector, the government should

Finalize and implement voluntary, made-in-Canada sustainable investment guidelines for buildings by Fall 2026 to provide a clear, credible framework that attracts capital, prevents greenwashing, and aligns building investments with Canada’s climate and housing goals.

3 – To improve access to whole-building energy data, the government should

Work with provinces and territories to provide timely, standardized access to whole-building utility data across Canada and support the adoption of tools like Energy Star Portfolio Manager to enable benchmarking, reduce costs, and improve transparency. These moves will help investors, governments, and building owners make informed decisions, unlock efficiency gains, and maximize the impact of public and private investments.

4 – To maintain the implementation and advancement of the Greening Government Strategy, the government should

Focus investments to ensure the long-term value of federal buildings by reinforcing its leadership in green building practices and accountability through thirdparty verifications for federal buildings and leased spaces.

Read the full submission here.