Government Programs for Housing

Housing programs are intended to assist homebuyers in the purchase of their home. There are various programs provided by each level of government. There are also opportunities to access co-operative housing support programs offered by not-for-profits in the private sector.

Federal Programs

  • 30-Year Amortizations for First-Time Buyers Purchasing New Builds – Effective August 1, 2024 first-time home buyers can qualify for a 30 amortization with insured mortgages on new construction homes. This makes it easier for younger Canadians to enter the housing market by enabling lower mortgage payments and get those first keys to their first home, while they climb the income ladder. www.canada.ca
  • Build Canada Homes – A federal housing initiative announced by the Government of Canada to help accelerate the construction of new homes, with a particular focus on purpose-built rental and affordable housing. The program is intended to complement existing federal tools by enabling a more direct role for the federal government in housing delivery—working with builders, developers, and other partners to reduce financial barriers, improve project viability, and increase housing supply where it is most needed. Build Canada Homes is designed to support long-term affordability and boost housing starts by aligning federal financing, land, and policy tools toward faster, more predictable housing outcomes. https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/bch-mc/index-eng.html
  • Federal Secondary Suite Refinancing Option (CMHC) – This program allows homewowners to refinance their insured mortgage, up to 90% for the homes post-renovation value, to fund the creation of a legal, long-term rental secondary suite, helping unlock equity and add rental supply. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professionals/project-funding-and-mortgage-financing/mortgage-loan-insurance/mortgage-loan-insurance-homeownership-programs/refinance
  • First-Time Home Buyers GST Rebate – removes the GST on new homes priced or below $1 million and reduces it for homes valued between $1 million and $1.5 million. Applies to purchase agreement signed between May 27, 2025 and 2013, with construction starting before 2031 and substantial completion by 2036. Learn more here.  https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/05/gst-relief-for-first-time-home-buyers-on-new-homes-valued-up-to-15-million.html
  • GST exemption for first-time buyers of new homes – The budget confirms the federal government’s plan to remove the GST on new homes purchased by first-time buyers with a value of up to $1 million and to reduce the GST for homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million. The measure originally announced on May 27 of 2025. The proposal is currently awaiting passage by the Senate after approval by Parliament as part of Bill C-4. The program is expected to lower the total cost of a qualifying $500,000 home by about 5%, or roughly $25,000, helping more first-time buyers enter the market. The exemption applies only to newly constructed homes. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/gst-hst-rebates/first-time-home-buyers-gst-hst-rebate.html

Provincial Programs

  • First-Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit: is a provincial non-refundable income tax credit of up to $1,050 to eligible taxpayers on qualified homes. Learn more about the First-Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit.
  • PST Rebate for New Home Construction – The Provincial Sales Tax (PST) Rebate for New Home Construction provides a rebate of up to 42% of the PST paid on the purchase of a new, previously unoccupied home (newly constructed home). The PST rebate is:
  • Secondary Suite Incentive (SSI) Grant Program
    • The new SSI grant program will provide 35% of the cost to build a new secondary suite at an owner’s primary residence, to a maximum grant of $35,000 per qualifying property.
    • Qualifying secondary suites must be on the property of a single-family home and include a separate entrance, full kitchen and full bathroom and meet all national, provincial, and municipal bylaws, codes and standards to be used as a rental unit. Costs of renovating an existing secondary suite or the primary residence are not eligible.
    • The Secondary Suite Incentive can be applied to a Basement Suite, Garden Suite, Laneway Home, or Garage Suite. The determining factor will be if the local municipality approves the secondary unit, the Ministry will accept it as eligible for the grant. The regulations, applications form and program guidelines will be published on the SSI webpage in January 2024.
    • Conversion of an existing space in a single-family home into a secondary suite is also eligible.
    • Program sunsets March 31, 2027
  • Home Efficiency Retrofit Rebate: SaskPower & SaskEnergy have partnered to the develop this opportunity for eligible homeowners in Saskatchewan to enhance their homes with high-performance windows, doors, insulation and air sealing retrofits.
  • Homes Beyond Code Program: Encouraging individuals to build their home to a higher energy efficiency tier than the minimum building code set out by The National Building Code of Canada. Rebates between $3,000 and $9,000.  www.saskenergy.com

City of Regina Programs

  • Housing Incentives Program: The City offers residential tax exemption programs and capital grants for newly-constructed rental housing and ownership housing that meets eligibility and affordability requirements. Learn more about the City of Regina Housing Incentives Program
  • Green Municipal Fund Grants for Retrofits or New Affordable Units: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities provides funding for construction, retrofits and pre-construction activities for Sustainable Affordable Housing projects. Learn more about the Green Municipal Fund

Private Sector Programs

  • National Affordable Housing Corporation (NAHC) Down Payment Assistance Program – helps individuals, couples and families find affordable housing answers. We provide rentals that are family-friendly, clean and built to a high quality, and offer down payment programs to help people stop renting and own their own home. Learn more about NAHC.

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