Build Canada Homes accelerates affordable housing in Dartmouth

Dartmouth, NS – December 14, 2025— The Government of Canada, through Build Canada Homes, and the Province of Nova Scotia have committed to work together to accelerate the development of an additional 1,430 new affordable homes across the province. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to address Nova Scotia’s housing needs through a new approach that will unlock housing on federal and provincial lands, streamline approvals, and apply innovative construction methods to deliver homes faster and more cost-effectively.

Key Partnership Highlights

• Build Canada Homes and the Province of Nova Scotia have secured a partnership to jointly commit up to $300 million to accelerate the development of 1,430 new affordable homes.
• This will include 500 units of non-profit and community housing from the province’s housing pipeline, with construction starting within 12 months.
• Build Canada Homes has committed up to $120 million, and the Province of Nova Scotia has committed up to $180 million in capital and operating funding for 500 units of non-profit and community housing from the Province’s housing pipeline, and 300 units in Shannon Park, which will include supportive and/or transitional units as well as public housing units.
• The 300 homes at Shannon Park would be complementary and coordinated with the 630 Build Canada Homes rental units planned for phase one of Shannon Park.  
• Finally, the Halifax Regional Municipality, working with Build Canada Homes and the Province of Nova Scotia, will support efforts to fast-track the development approval processes and, subject to Council approval, will reduce or waive municipal development fees, provide relief from property taxes or provide other grant offerings in support of a 930 unit affordable housing project to be built on federal and provincial lands in Shannon Park.

Shannon Park, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

• The federal government, through Build Canada Homes, has prioritized a portion of the Shannon Park property in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for a Direct Build approach using modern methods of construction to help accelerate approximately 630 residential units, where the plan is to deliver a minimum of 40% of homes below-market value that will be affordable to households with moderate and median incomes.
• The Province of Nova Scotia will partner with Build Canada Homes to deliver an additional 300 shovel-ready homes on the provincially-owned portion of land at Shannon Park. Development of the site will provide a mix of different homes, including public housing, and supportive or transitional housing.
• Build Canada Homes will issue a Request for Qualifications to select design-build teams for onsite housing construction the federal portion of the site. Proponents have been asked to demonstrate experience and innovation, especially in promoting modern methods of construction like prefabrication, modular, and mass timber.
• The selected proponents will be required to prioritize Canadian-sourced materials.
• The Request for Qualifications closes on February 9, 2026. Selected proponents will proceed to the Request for Proposals stage in 2026.

Build Canada Homes

• Build Canada Homes is Canada’s new federal agency that will build and finance affordable housing at scale, while catalyzing a more productive homebuilding industry.
• By combining access to federal lands, development expertise and flexible financial tools under one roof, Build Canada Homes will make it simpler and faster to get big projects off the ground.  
• Build Canada Homes will prioritize non-profit housing, supporting a mix of income needs as part of a national effort to double housing construction, restore affordability, and reduce homelessness.
• As part of the federal government’s bold response to Canada’s housing crisis, Canada Lands Company is transferring under the newly launched Build Canada Homes. This marks a strategic shift in how federal lands and development expertise are mobilized to accelerate affordable housing delivery across the country.
• Build Canada Homes will develop parcels at six Canada Lands Company sites in Dartmouth, Longueuil, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. These sites will prioritize innovative, modern methods of construction to build up to 4,000 homes, quickly, affordably, and sustainably.