Canada Needs 50% More Housing Starts to Restore Affordability by 2036, Says CMHC According to CMHC's new national report, Canada's annual housing shortfall is estimated to be between 187,000 to 238,000 homes over the next decade. The gap between current construction pace and the 417,000 to 469,000 homes needed to restore 2019-level affordability by 2036. CMHC also reports that Toronto needs to increase its current pace of housing starts by at least 50% over the next decade to return to 2019-level affordability. The city needs 50% more housing starts a year to restore 2019-level affordability over the next decade. A new national report from CMHC shows ownership construction stalling in Vancouver, too. In Toronto, developers broke ground on 156 condominium units in the first half of 2026, according to CMHC's new report. Nationally, Canada's annual housing shortfall is estimated to be between 187,000 to 238,000 homes over the next decade. The gap between current construction pace and the 417,000 to 469,000 homes needed to restore 2019-level affordability by 2036.CMHC says Toronto needs to increase its current pace of housing starts by at least 50% over the next decade to return to 2019-level affordability