In April, Canadians elected Mark Carney as the new Prime Minister. With this transition in leadership, the federal government has set new priorities that will directly impact municipalities, particularly in areas of housing, infrastructure and urban development.

The Speech from the Throne outlined the government’s vision for economic stability, housing expansion and infrastructure development. These priorities signal a shift in policy that will influence municipal planning, regulatory frameworks and funding models, particularly in relation to water utilities and infrastructure projects.

The Liberal Housing Plan includes a commitment to double the housing construction rate, with a target of building 500,000 new homes annually. This mandate will lead to significant housing developments on public and newly acquired lands, and result in substantial demand for municipal water infrastructure. The plan also proposes cutting development charges by 50% for multi-unit residential housing.

The Liberal Party’s plan to protect Canada’s natural environment included a focus on protecting Canada’s freshwater, including $100-million strategic water security technology fund to advance Canadian R&D, AI-powered monitoring and data tools.