A new federal housing agency is advancing funding and development plans for six projects on federal lands that together are expected to deliver up to 4,000 new homes across the country.

The projects are being led by Build Canada Homes, a federal agency launched in 2025 to build and finance affordable housing at scale, with an emphasis on speed, modern construction methods and partnerships with other levels of government. The six sites have moved forward through requests for qualifications, enabling funding and development to proceed toward construction.

In Toronto, the Arbo Downsview project is planned to deliver 540 homes, with at least 40% designated as affordable. The federal government is also providing up to $283 million to expand local infrastructure in the Downsview area, an investment intended to catalyse the construction of as many as 63,000 additional homes over time.

In Winnipeg, Build Canada Homes funding will support 320 homes at Naawi-Oodena, a redevelopment undertaken in partnership with Treaty One First Nations and Canada Lands Company. Two parcels at the Village at Griesbach in Edmonton are earmarked for 355 homes, while in Longueuil, Quebec, the Pointe-de-Longueuil waterfront project is expected to deliver 1,055 homes, 40% of which will be non-market units.

The Heron Road site in Ottawa, an 18-acre federal property, is expected to accommodate about 1,100 homes. In Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the first phase at Shannon Park will support up to 630 mixed-market homes, with a minimum of 40% priced below market to serve moderate- and median-income households. The province and province have committed $300 million altogether. An additional 330 homes will be built on the site, bringing the total to 1,430.

“We are tackling Canada’s housing crisis with urgency and innovation,” said Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson. “Build Canada Homes is proving what’s possible when we work together—partnering with provinces, territories, municipalities, and community organizations to fast-track approvals, unlock land, and stretch every federal dollar to deliver more homes Canadians can afford. These early agreements set the standard for how we will accelerate housing solutions across the country.”

Build Canada Homes committed to the projects during its first 100 days of operation. Ana Bailão, the agency’s CEO, said it has created a national portal that is converting interest in new-home construction into action.

“This is a model for how we want to work across Canada: Combining speed, innovation, and collaboration to get shovels in the ground and homes built faster for those who need [housing] most,” she said.

Pictured: Arbo Downsview project in Toronto.

Rendering: Canada Lands Company