This rendering is one of two four-plex examples in the federal housing catalogue, suitable for building in Saskatchwan. (submitted/CMHC website)

By Susan McNeil

Housing help

Prince Albert one of eight communities invited to apply for infrastructure money to boost housing builds

Apr 22, 2025 | 11:18 AM

Prince Albert is one of eight Saskatchewan communities that have been invited to apply for federal/provincial infrastructure funding to boost home building.

The city will join Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Moosomin, La Ronge, Radisson, Outlook and Humboldt in the application process for Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund money.

A recent look into the housing situation in Prince Albert showed that over 1,000 units need to be built in the city in the next decade in order to keep up with demand.

That includes both social and market housing.

Under the deal signed between the province and the federal government two months ago, the funding has two major rules; the municipality must allow four-plexes in all low-density residential areas that have municipal services (reasonable limitations are allowed) and the city must also freeze development charges at whatever rate they were on April 2, 2024.

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In exchange for the loosening of regulations on four-plexes and the freeze of rates, cities will get money from the federal and provincial governments to service more lots with water, storm drains and sewer systems.

“With our government’s contribution of more than $155 million, a total of over $340 million will be made available to enhance municipal infrastructure in Saskatchewan and I encourage all communities to start preparing for the significant intake planned for September,” said Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz in a news release announcing the intake.

The province has agreed to promote measures that include a ‘green’ component and the federal government will identify ways that greenhouse gas emissions are assessed and possibly reduced. Projects could be expected to report emissions from ready-mix and low-carbon concrete and identify climate hazards.

Low carbon concrete is already part of the Canadian Standards Association and the National Buildng Code. It uses a Portland concrete mix rather than the traditional method of mixing but gives equal levels of strength.

Another part of the agreement is the use of the federal housing design catalogue as an option or a provincial equivalent.

Construction of market housing for purchase and affordable housing has lagged in Prince Albert which resulted in very low vacancy rates for rental units and a serious lack of houses to buy valued between $360,000 and $450,000, according the city’s report.

A deadline of June 30 has been set to allocate the first round of funding, which totals $23 million.

Both major federal political parties have promised to make changes to the GST levied on new homes to help spur building.

The CHIF was created by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government and will start dispersing funds next year.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.co

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social