Today, federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for housing and homelessness met in Toronto, Ontario, for the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Forum on Housing and Homelessness (the Forum).1 Co-chaired by the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Canada's Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, and the Honourable Rob Flack, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ministers discussed the impacts of housing and homelessness challenges facing communities across Canada. Ministers discussed the announcements of the 2026 federal budget that is investing $44.7 billion over 11 years to put Canada on a path towards ending homelessness, expand non-market housing, and build a housing market that works for all.
Ministers highlighted the importance of renewing the Canada Housing Benefit ($5.6 billion over 10 years) and Reaching Home ($6.5 billion over 10 years), outlined in the federal Budget 2026 and recognized the crucial role of flexible long-term federal funding in supporting P/T responses as part of the broader F-P/T response on housing and homelessness. Ministers also noted the $5 billion for the new Integrated Supports Fund and the $10 billion in additional federal investments in supportive and transitional housing across the country. Ministers acknowledged that all governments have an important role to play, and that meaningful progress will require sustained collaboration, partnership, collective action and ongoing shared funding commitments.2
Ministers also affirmed the essential role of provinces and territories in delivering housing and homelessness solutions in their communities and the significant progress achieved to date as well as the critical role that this federal-provincial-territorial partnership plays to support housing outcomes for Canadians. They emphasized the importance of working together to rapidly renew federal-provincial-territorial bilateral agreements prior to their expiry in 2027-28. Ministers committed to advance negotiations in the coming months on the bilateral housing agreements ahead of the Spring Economic Update 2027, including preserving existing non-market housing stock as currently delivered through Canada Community Housing Initiative.
They recognized the importance of flexible agreements that reflect distinct, regional housing needs and challenges while advancing shared priorities. Ministers reiterated their commitment to maintaining momentum, building on existing partnerships, and identifying opportunities to strengthen cooperation across governments.
Ministers acknowledged the urgency and scale of current housing and homelessness challenges and the importance of working together to advance shared priorities. These include preserving existing non-market and community housing and providing long-term certainty for residents and housing providers. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration to address homelessness, improve housing outcomes, and support stronger, more sustainable communities across Canada, and agreed to meet again in spring 2027 to discuss progress on this work.
Ministers directed senior officials to start the development of a workplan towards finalizing bilateral agreements. Senior officials are also asked to report back to the FPT Forum on this work in the coming months.
1 Due to their recent election, British Columbia's minister has not taken part in the publication of this press release.
2 While it shares many of the objectives sought by other governments, Québec intends to fully exercise its own responsibilities and control over the planning, organization and management of housing on its territory to benefit Québec's population. Accordingly, Québec intends on obtaining its fair share of every federal funding initiative for housing and homelessness, quickly and without conditions, in a manner that respects its exclusive jurisdiction.
