Canada is turning to mass timber, 3D printing, and modular construction to fast-track affordable housing on it’s Atlantic coast. It comes after the Trudeau government announced it would establish the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII), a CA $50 million fund over the next two years to reduce construction time and costs, making housing more affordable and sustainable.
“This initiative will build homes in a matter of weeks, not months,” said Gudie Hutchings, Canada’s Minister for Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
As part of Canada’s Housing Plan, the RHII seeks to address the housing shortage by enabling rapid, scalable homebuilding solutions across Atlantic Canada.
The RHII promotes advanced building methods, including:
- 3D-printed homes: Large-scale 3D printers quickly create walls or entire structures with materials like concrete, cutting down on construction time and labour.
- Modular homes: Built in sections off-site, these “modules” are transported and assembled on-site, reducing time and waste while maintaining quality.
- Mass timber construction: Engineered wood replaces traditional materials like steel, creating a strong, renewable alternative with lower environmental impact.
The latest commitment comes just months after Canada pledged to invest CA $600 million into prefab manufacturing, mass timber construction, panelization, 3D printing, and pre-approved housing designs, which amounts to one of the strongest commitments by a national government to supercharge social and affordable housing.
The pledge is part of a suite of policies introduced by the Trudeau-led Liberal Government – which has committed $23 billion to address housing, ahead of a 2025 October poll defined by a housing shortage and cost-of-living crisis gripping Canada.
