Carla Staresina

Advocate for the inclusion of geothermal energy systems in energy efficient housing initiatives and loan programs.

Advocate for housing, financial and taxation policies that promote the growth and sustainability of Canada's housing and real estate sectors. Advocacy with Environment and Climate Change Canada relating to their Clean Electricity Regulations. Advocacy with the Department of Finance regarding Clean Technology Investment Tax Credits (applicability to real estate entities and program implementation) Advocacy relating to the 2024 Federal Budget proposal to temporarily provide accelerated capital cost allowance (CCA) for new eligible purpose-built rental projects, increasing the CCA rate from 4% to 10%. We are working with staff on Interest Deductibility Limits (the “Proposed Interest Rules”) as proposed in the 2021 federal budget and relating to our concern that the Proposed Interest Rules may unfairly impact Canadian real estate investors, relative to both investors in other Canadian industries and investors in foreign jurisdictions (most importantly the United States (“US”)) Advocacy with CMHC, the Federal Housing Advocate, and the Ministry of Housing regarding affordable housing programs and policies Advocating for policy proposals within Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy which would improve building energy efficiency. Advocacy relating to the creation of seniors' housing real estate investment trusts vehicles that would encourage institutional investment in seniors' housing similar to existing real estate investment trust models. Advocacy with Natural Resources Canada's regarding their Energy Star Portfolio Manager Program and Green Building Strategy. Advocating for policy inclusions within annual budgets that improve the national commercial real estate markets. These include infrastructure enhancements, tax fairness, and energy efficiency grants. Advocacy related to Budget 2024 announcement that the government will consider introducing a new tax on residentially zoned vacant land Providing input on the implementation of the Public Surplus Lands for Homes program that was announced in the Budget 2024. Advocacy related to Budget 2024 proposal to introduce a new anti-avoidance rule that will preclude a corporation from qualifying as a “mutual fund corporation” where it is controlled by or for the benefit of certain specified groups (which may be comprised of any combination of persons that do not deal with one another at “arm’s length”). Advocacy relating to the government's possible proposal to impose an earnings-based interest deductibility limitation on Canadian corporations, including commercial real estate corporations and housing providers.

Advocacy related to the contents of the Spring Economic Statement and particularly initiatives related to federal housing policy and the environment. These include: - discussions around reduction in development charges through federal grants to provinces and municipalities - reduction in the federal GST on new homes for sale - possible financing tools to encourage new housing development - technical amendments to the EIFEL and accelerated capital cost allowance rules for purpose-built rental - encouraging foreign investment and speeding up development approval timelines - some questions around implications of the Cowichan decision in British Columbia and the Musqueam Rights Recognition Agreement on private property rights - discussion around energy policy, decarbonization policy, and REIT legislation reform. Advocacy related to Budget 2025, including taxation issues, issues relevant to public capital markets, issues related to housing and housing incentive programs, issues related to GST taxation, and issues related to programs to restart the housing sector. Providing input on the implementation of the Public Surplus Lands for Homes program that was announced in the Budget 2024. Working with Natural Resources Canada and Finance Canada to create a robust Sustainable Development Strategy for Commercial Real Estate in Canada We are working with staff on Interest Deductibility Limits (the “Proposed Interest Rules”) as proposed in the 2021 federal budget and relating to our concern that the Proposed Interest Rules may unfairly impact Canadian real estate investors, relative to both investors in other Canadian industries and investors in foreign jurisdictions (most importantly the United States (“US”)) Discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities on the development of the Renters' Bill of Rights announced in the 2024 Budget Advocating for policy proposals within Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy which would improve building energy efficiency. Advocating for policy inclusions within annual budgets that improve the national commercial real estate markets. These include infrastructure enhancements, tax fairness, and energy efficiency grants. Advocacy with the Department of Finance regarding Clean Technology Investment Tax Credits (applicability to real estate entities and program implementation) Advocacy with Natural Resources Canada's regarding their Energy Star Portfolio Manager Program and Green Building Strategy. Advocacy with Environment and Climate Change Canada relating to their Clean Electricity Regulations. Advocacy with CMHC, the Federal Housing Advocate, and the Ministry of Housing regarding affordable housing programs and policies Advocacy relating to the government's possible proposal to impose an earnings-based interest deductibility limitation on Canadian corporations, including commercial real estate corporations and housing providers. Advocacy relating to the government's Budget 2024 proposal to increase the Capital Gains Inclusion Rate from one-half to two-thirds for corporations and trusts, and from one-half to two-thirds on the portion of capital gains realized in the year that exceed $250,000 for individuals, and in each case for capital gains realized on or after June 25, 2024. Advocacy relating to the creation of seniors' housing real estate investment trusts vehicles that would encourage institutional investment in seniors' housing similar to existing real estate investment trust models. Advocacy relating to the 2024 Federal Budget proposal to temporarily provide accelerated CCA for new eligible purpose-built rental projects, increasing the CCA rate from 4% to 10%. Advocacy related to Budget 2024 proposal to introduce a new anti-avoidance rule that will preclude a corporation from qualifying as a “mutual fund corporation” where it is controlled by or for the benefit of certain specified groups (which may be comprised of any combination of persons that do not deal with one anot

To ask federal government to continue to apply pressure to provinces and municipalities to reduce development taxes and work with provinces and municipalities to mandate that alternatives to development taxes be found and used instead. The role of Build Canada Homes and the impact upon housing needs in Canada and to ensure that market-rate housing policies are still pursued by the government in addition to the mandate of Build Canada Homes. Implement CMHC Construction Financing, including low-interest financing for market-rate housing for ownership from the government, plus a new construction loan insurance program. Discuss implications for the Canadian home construction sector surrounding proposed 25% tariffs from the United States. Work with provinces to have the EnerGuide Rating System (ERS) label on all houses at the time of resale and expand ERS (and its software tools updated) and be promoted so that ERS becomes the backbone of all renovation incentives. Working with the home construction industry to support innovation and capital investment to increase industry productivity both for in-site built approaches and factory-built solutions. Update the federal immigration system to proactively attract much-needed skilled workers in residential construction. Update and index the thresholds for the GST New Housing Rebate. Support voluntary programming initiatives like ENERGY STAR, R?2000 and CHBA’s Net Zero Home Labelling Program enable homeowners to choose higher levels of performance on a voluntary basis, moving the market forward without damaging affordability in entry?level homes. Support Transit-Oriented Development, Complete Communities and the “Missing Middle” of Housing - To ensure that Canadians get maximum benefit from federal infrastructure investments, the Government needs to support increased supply in the “missing middle” – whether “gentle intensification” via secondary suites, conversion of larger units or medium-density low-rise mixed-income housing, in walkable communities with ready access to public transit. Support local and provincial submissions to the Red Tape Reduction Commission to address issues associated with the Contract Payment Reporting System operated by the Canada Revenue Agency Support for housing research, analysis and demonstration projects on topics of priority interest to the residential construction industry, e.g., on housing market trends Seek Federal research on improved environmental guidelines for residential communities to determine more specifically their cost and technological implications for practitioners in the residential cosntruction and development industries Rigorously enforce provisions of the Income Tax Act and Excise Tax Act in relation to combating the underground "cash economy". Revise the tax regime to avoid GST being applied to new “purposebuilt” rental developments. This increases rents for tenants and renders the business model for investing in purpose-built rentals less attractive, hence discouraging the construction of affordable rental properties. Revise tax rules for accessory suites, such as granny flats and laneway housing, as the current tax system, which incorporates land value rather than just construction costs, and is discouraging this important form of infill housing that is favoured by more and more municipalities. These innovative infill projects increase the number of affordable homes in established neighbourhoods. Replacement of the Contract Payment Reporting System with an alternative that requires all participants in the construction industry to register for a Business Number with the CRA, and that pursues those engaging in cash-only transactions much more aggressively Reintroduce 30-year amortization periods for insured residential mortgages for new construction. Promote a federal YIMBY (yes in my backyard) campaign. New developments (especially densification and mixed income housing) are often met with local public opposition even when aligned with