Ottawa, September 2025 – The National Apartment Council is calling on Ottawa to revive a proven housing solution: the Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) incentive. Responsible for nearly 200,000 units in the 1970s, a modernized MURB can once again unlock billions in private investment and accelerate rental supply across Canada.
“Canada doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. MURBs worked then, and they can work now,” says Derek Lobo, President and Chair of the National Apartment Council. “If the Prime Minister wants to double housing starts, he needs to bring back MURBs and let developers do what they do best: build at scale.”
The Council’s call comes on the heels of its parliamentary submissions on August 28 and 29 to the Ministry of Finance and federal pre-budget consultations, where developers outlined practical steps for federal–private partnership. Recommendations include:
- Modernize and Relaunch MURB – A tax-based incentive proven to mobilize private capital and deliver long-term rental housing.
- Strengthen CMHC Financing – Ensure federal loan programs reflect real development costs and risks.
- Support Cost Relief and Policy Consistency – Reduce development charges and provide stable policy windows that align with 5–8 year project timelines.
Every crane swinging means jobs created, stronger local economies, and healthier communities. By bringing back MURBs, developers say Ottawa can trigger a surge of rental construction that supports affordability, reduces inequality, and strengthens economic stability.
“Private developers have built roughly 90% of Canada’s apartments,” adds Lobo. “Bringing back MURBs is the most direct way to unleash that capacity again — delivering more homes, more jobs, and more stability for Canadians.”
Rental housing is essential infrastructure. Federal leadership paired with private sector capacity is the only path to achieving national housing targets.
“The longer we wait, the more Canadians pay the price,” says Lobo. “It’s time to move fast and bring back MURBs.”