WENZEL: Carney's net-zero ideology would undoubtedly force home prices

With Mark Carney in the prime minister’s chair, it’s safe to assume his brand of climate-focused policy would drive the next wave of federal priorities. On the surface, that might sound appealing to those pushing net zero emissions. But, when you peel back the layers, especially on the topic of net-zero housing, what you’re left with is an agenda that threatens to make housing even more unaffordable than is currently believed by the average Canadian. On the campaign trail he talks about building ‘millions of homes’ with no experience or real knowledge of what it would take to build these homes. Liberal Sean Fraser, past minister of housing, found that out and announced last month that he would not seek re-election when he realized what he had been proposing wasn’t physically possible. (And then, sensing perhaps that the polls were more favourable, took back his nomination.).Carney has made it clear that he believes solving climate change is the challenge of our time. But if his solution involves mandating net-zero standards, especially for new home construction nationwide, Canadians would need to brace themselves for a price tag they didn’t ask for and really can’t afford should this become a policy.Let’s be clear. Building a net-zero home adds significant costs. We’re talking about tens of thousands of dollars more per home or unit in most cases. From triple-pane windows, thicker walls and upgraded insulation to blower door tests, and more inspections to heat pumps, geothermal systems, and solar panels, it all adds up. And, in a country where home prices are already out of reach for many families this kind of policy will only escalate the housing affordability crisis.Right now, even a modest single-family home in a major Canadian city can easily run north of $600,000 — and that’s without the extra layers of regulation and requirements a net-zero mandate would bring. Builders would naturally be forced to pass these costs on to buyers. Worse yet, many would pull back from building that home entirely due to feasibility issues, strangling supply in a market already defined by scarcity..And what about small towns and rural communities? A national net-zero housing policy fails to consider local realities — like harsher winters, less access to energy-efficient technologies, and limited contractor availability. The cost burden becomes even more disproportionate in those areas, driving inequality even further between urban centres and the rest of the country.This is classic top-down policymaking gone wrong. Instead of enabling Canadians to be part of a housing solution, it dictates unrealistic expectations while ignoring practical and affordable alternatives.So, here’s what I see as a better idea! Let’s introduce a robust renovation tax credit or a targeted retrofit incentive. Let homeowners voluntarily upgrade their existing properties — replacing old furnaces and hot water tanks, improving insulation, installing smart thermostats and energy-efficient windows. These are upgrades people actually want and need. They’re affordable and scalable, and they could move the needle on emissions. In fact, we’d likely see significant reductions in GHG emissions without punishing those already struggling to buy a new home. .This approach would also stimulate the $8 billion annual renovation sector, creating more jobs while achieving real quantifiable outcomes. More importantly it also respects Canadians' ability to make smart choices, rather than forcing their hand with sweeping and costly mandates.Net-zero housing could be an option, not a requirement, if Mark Carney and the Liberals are genuinely committed to addressing what they believe to be a man-created issue, while not recognizing that affordability is also a crucial component. Without considering affordability, any plans for net-zero housing risk becoming another ideological failure that overlooks the needs of Canadians and makes homeownership even less attainable for those it aims to assist.Let’s lead with common sense, not senseless activism.

WENZEL: Carney's net-zero ideology would undoubtedly force home prices

Related Stories