As an apartment developer, you aren’t just building structures—you’re building the communities for Canada’s future. However, in today’s market, the difference between breaking ground and stalling often comes down to decisions made, or not made, in Ottawa.
At Rock Advisors, we see the hurdles you face every day. That is why we are vocal supporters of the National Apartment Council (NAC)—the only unified federal voice for the apartment development industry.
The NAC is the only unified federal voice for the private apartment industry. Right now, they are tackling the BIG ISSUES that will define your portfolio for the next decade.
1. CMHC Reform: Slashing the Red Tape
The current CMHC programs are the backbone of new supply, but the “one-size-fits-all” approach is buckling. The NAC is pushing for predictable underwriting and faster approvals. We need a system that rewards private developers who have the scale to actually move the needle on housing.
2. Ending the HST/CRA Friction
The GST rebate on new rentals was a win, but the administrative “tax on growth” remains. The NAC is working to ensure the CRA views apartment development as an engine for the economy, not a piggy bank, by pushing for clearer rules and permanent tax incentives.
3. The Return of the MURB: Incentivizing the Private Sector to Build
In the late 1970s, the Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) program sparked a rental-construction boom by allowing investors to use CCA losses to offset other income. The NAC is advocating for a modernized MURB 2.0—a policy that would once again attract private capital at scale and make project economics work in a high-interest-rate environment.
4. The “Canadian 1031”: Unlocking Billions
This is the game-changer. In the U.S., a 1031 Exchange allows investors to sell a property and defer capital gains taxes if they reinvest in a new project.
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The Problem: Canadian owners are often “locked in” to older, inefficient assets because the tax hit to sell is too high.
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The NAC Solution: A tax-deferred rollover that lets you move capital from a legacy 20-unit building into a new 100-unit development—instantly unlocking billions for new housing starts.
5. Reduction of DCs: It’s Already on the Liberal Agenda
One of the most significant barriers to building is the explosion of municipal Development Charges (DCs). The NAC has been instrumental in putting this on the federal radar.
Why Rock Advisors Refers You to the NAC
We provide the strategy to help you build and sell, but the National Apartment Council provides the environment that makes those deals possible.
If you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu. We strongly encourage our clients to support the NAC’s mission to ensure the private developer remains the primary solution to Canada’s housing crisis.