Advocates are pushing for more homes to be built in Saskatchewan

Builders may be busy building new homes in Saskatoon, but the reality, realtors say, is that it’s not enough.

“We are short of inventory and our inventory has been declining month after month for the last three years,” said Chris Guerette, CEO of the Saskatchewan Realtors Association.

Guerette said the lack of new homes available, along with rising interest rates and inflation, has made it near impossible for some to own a home.

The solution, she said, is not as complicated as people might think, but lies in the hands of the province and the communities within.

“Most of the influence and impact on housing occurs at the community level. So what are we doing to educate communities and help them accelerate this process?” said Guerette.

Since 1990, Saskatchewan has built 96,000 homes in the province. But the province would need to build 100,000 homes by 2030 to make housing affordable across the board, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Colleen Mah, the broker at Northridge Realty LTD, said that goal is not realistic.

“We’ve never done that before,” Mah said. “At the peak, we’re building maybe 5,000 new units a year — which is 20 years, not eight years.”

For Guerette, the Saskatchewan Housing Continuum Network hopes to help as the group takes a closer look at each city’s unique needs.

“And not just one solution, but multi-pronged,” said Guerette. “There will be a policy that allows anyone to build any type of house, anywhere, in any type of capacity.”

Proponents said it’s time elected officials in every community brought it up at the decision-making table.