OTTAWA / YELLOWKNIFE — The governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories have agreed to invest in housing and critical infrastructure projects that together amount to more than $655 million, federal and territorial officials announced.
Major funding to deliver hundreds of housing units
As part of the partnership, Build Canada Homes (BCH) and Housing NWT have reached an agreement in principle to support the delivery of at least 560 affordable housing units. The planned investment for that portfolio is about $480 million, to be financed by several partners.
| Source | Planned contribution |
|---|---|
| Build Canada Homes (BCH) | $200 million |
| Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) | $190 million |
| Other funding (including private capital) | $90.5 million |
The proposed housing mix in the portfolio is intended to serve a range of needs: at least 380 social housing units, roughly 130 affordable units, and about 50 transitional or supportive units.
Partnerships to include Indigenous and community organisations
Officials said the arrangement will support broader partnerships among the federal government, the GNWT and developers — including Indigenous governments and organisations, non-profit groups and private-sector partners — to deliver housing where it is needed.
“This is exactly the kind of partnership that Build Canada Homes was created to support, when the response to local needs brings partners together and delivers more housing where it’s needed most — and we’re just getting started,” said Rebecca Alty, federal Crown-Indigenous Relations minister and the Northwest Territories’ sole MP.
The announcement took place at the former Hilltop Apartments site in Yellowknife, where federal and territorial ministers gathered to outline the new commitments. Photographs from the event show ministers on site amid light rain as they discussed the plans for redevelopment.
What the agreements aim to achieve
Officials emphasised that construction of homes is only one element of creating sustainable communities. The agreements are also intended to support supportive infrastructure for families and local businesses — an acknowledgement that housing supply must be paired with services and amenities to meet broader community needs.
- Scale: Combined investments top $655 million for housing and infrastructure projects in the territory.
- Housing breakdown: At least 560 units split among social, affordable and transitional/supportive housing.
- Funding partners: BCH, GNWT and other sources including private capital.
Federal officials framed the initiative as an example of the Build Canada Homes mandate: to catalyse housing supply in regions facing acute shortages. The territorial partners highlighted the need for a mix of housing types to serve families, people in need of supports and the working population.
The agreements signal a continued federal role in partnering with territorial governments and local organisations to address housing challenges in northern Canada, though officials did not provide a detailed construction timeline or completion targets in the initial release.
Reporting from the announcement site noted the presence of other territorial ministers, including the minister responsible for Housing NWT and the health and social services minister, reinforcing the cross-departmental nature of the planned investments.
Further details, such as project schedules and specific community-level plans, are expected as partners move from agreement in principle toward project planning and procurement phases.
