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VAUGHAN, ONT. — It was a monumental occasion to have King Charles read out the speech from the throne in Ottawa on May 27, but initially the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) was concerned there were some missed opportunities in the text.����

The association issued a press release immediately after the speech stating the federal government didn’t make good on its election promise to immediately implement the removal of the GST on new homes at or under $1 million and lower it on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. ��
But then, just hours after the King left for the airport, the federal government tabled legislative proposals to amend the Excise Tax Act to make good on its promise.��

“For years, CHBA has been advocating for a change to the GST thresholds on new construction homes to help address housing affordability challenges in regions across the country, and this measure is a very positive step forward for Canadians,” said CHBA CEO Kevin Lee. “Previously, without details around the implementation of this measure, Canadians wishing to enter the housing market were holding out on buying a new construction home, which results in fewer home starts, so it is encouraging that today first-time buyers can have the confidence to move forward.��

“We still urge the federal government to extend this measure to all home buyers and reconsider the eligibility to make it based on closing date, not date of purchase and sale.”��

A letter penned to the prime minister from the Building Industry and Land Development Association, Canmore Community Housing, CHBA, Habitat For Humanity Canada, the Missing Middle Initiative, Options for Homes, Polygon Homes Ltd. and Wesgroup Properties, also states the GST won’t be benefitical to all areas of the country.

“While we are pleased that the federal government is moving quickly, the measures will provide limited, if any, benefit for buyers in large urban centres such as the GTA and Lower Mainland B.C.,” they state. “We strongly encourage the government to incorporate the recommendations in the open letter, particularly the recommendation to retain the existing GST New Housing Rebate structure and eligibility criteria without adding a first-time homebuyer restriction.”��

The Residential ������ion Council of Ontario (RESCON) also applauded the throne speech and GST news.��

“The tax burden on new housing is one of the critical factors that are stymieing new construction and driving up the cost of new housing,” said RESCON president Richard Lyall. “Removing the federal sales tax on new homes at or under $1 million and reducing it for homes between $1 and $1.5 million is a step forward and we commend the government for its action.”��

King Charles delivered the first throne speech by a reigning monarch in the country in nearly half a century and his words conveyed a message of reasserting Canada’s sovereignty.��

The speech from the throne begins a new session of Parliament and is usually read by the governor general as the King’s representative in Canada.��

The speech is typically drafted by the federal government to set out its priorities for the coming legislative session, but the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed this one was done in “collaboration with the Palace.”��

The King was invited to deliver the speech by Prime Minister Mark Carney in a symbolic gesture following months of comments by U.S. President Donald Trump about turning Canada into the 51st state. And it referenced the issue, at least indirectly, with the King saying in the opening moments, that Canadians have come “together in a renewed sense of national pride, unity and hope.”��

The speech mentions the government’s “core mission” which is to build the “strongest economy in the G7. That starts with creating one Canadian economy out of 13. Internal barriers to trade and labour mobility cost Canada as much as $200 billion each year. The government will introduce legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by Canada Day.”��

The Canadian ������ion Association (CCA) was pleased to see construction remained at the forefront.��

“This is our moment. This is when we demonstrate how critical we are to delivering a safe, sustainable and prosperous future for our country,” said CCA president Rodrigue Gilbert.����

There was also mention of working with provinces, territories and Indigenous people to identify and catalyze projects of national significance.��

“Through the creation of a new Major Federal Project Office, the time needed to approve a project will be reduced from five years to two; all while upholding Canada’s world-leading environmental standards and its constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples,” it reads.��

These measures will only help bolster the trades, said Canada’s Building Trades Unions executive director Sean Strickland.��

“It has never been more apparent that the skilled trades will be the dominant focus of this government as the backbone of Canada’s economy,” he said. “As we face new challenges and a renewed focus on energy and infrastructure, Building Trades members stand ready to build the major projects of today to ensure Canada’s prosperity of tomorrow.”��

And in the closing moments, King Charles drew the event’s biggest applause, referencing O Canada, and saying “the True North is indeed strong and free.”��

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— With files from the Canadian Press