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A new Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) analysis released June 3 finds that slashing municipal development charges would lift the number of viable housing projects in some cities but would not, by itself, restore affordability nationwide.
Using a model based on data from 40 municipalities, CMHC chief economist Mathieu Laberge said eliminating development fees could increase viable projects by as much as about 14 per cent in places such as Burnaby.
In Toronto and Vancouver, cuts of 50–60 per cent would raise viability by roughly 5 per cent, while near-elimination would boost projects by about 10 per cent.
Small reductions of less than 20 per cent generally produce under 2 per cent gains.
The report notes development charges — fees for local infrastructure like sewers and water — are a meaningful cost component but also a key municipal revenue source.
CMHC and the federal government are encouraging municipalities to trim fees and are deploying billions in programs and financing to try to stimulate supply, but the agency cautions that fee cuts alone are insufficient to reverse rising prices.







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