Construction Challenges in Canada: Rising Costs and Labour Shortages Insights from Dean Campbell of Parkbridge

Commercial Real Estate Podcast

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam connect with Dean Campbell, Vice President of Construction and Design at Parkbridge, about the evolving Canadian housing market and the innovative land lease model. Dean shares his extensive experience in construction and highlights how Parkbridge’s approach—where residents own their homes but lease the land—makes housing more affordable, especially in high-cost areas like the Greater Toronto Area. The conversation also dives into the challenges of rising development costs and labour shortages and how municipalities are stepping up to support housing needs. Tune in for valuable insights into the future of housing and the impact of models like land leasing!

Here are the key talking points from the episode:

• Dean’s Background in Construction
• Overview of Parkbridge and Community Development
• Explaining the Land Lease Model
• Impact of Development Charges on Affordability
• Labour Shortages in the Construction Industry
• Future of Housing Development Amid Rising Costs
• Municipal Responses to Housing Needs
• Institutional Backing and Its Influence

More about our guest…

Dean is a passionate and enthusiastic homebuilder with over 30 years of experience in condominium high-rise and wood-frame homebuilding. He has held the position of Chief Operating Officer, Housing for Excel Homes in Calgary, Edmonton, and Victoria. Before that, Dean was Vice President of Operations for Losani Homes in Hamilton and Vice President of Construction for Mattamy Homes in Ottawa and Calgary. Dean and his teams have been awarded numerous awards, including JD Power and Associates in Ottawa, Consumer Choice awards in Hamilton, and AVID Western Canada. Dean holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics and remains committed to ongoing learning.

Episode Highlights

• 02:31 – Dean’s Background in Construction
• 07:16 – Overview of Parkbridge and Community Development
• 12:01 – Explaining the Land Lease Model
• 15:46 – Impact of Development Charges on Affordability
• 20:01 – Labour Shortages in the Construction Industry
• 25:31 – Future of Housing Development Amid Rising Costs
• 30:01 – Municipal Responses to Housing Needs
• 35:01 – Institutional Backing and Its Influence

Quotes

• “The land lease model is a game-changer for many buyers. It allows residents to own their homes while leasing the land beneath them. This significantly reduces the upfront costs, making it a viable option, especially in high-demand areas like the Greater Toronto Area. By lowering the barrier to entry, we’re aiming to make homeownership more accessible.”

• “We’re seeing development charges and labour costs soar, and unfortunately, these costs are often passed down to the buyers. It raises the question: how do we keep homes affordable when the expenses seem to be out of our control? It’s a pressing issue that needs to be addressed at all levels of government.”

• “The construction industry is facing a critical labour shortage. An aging workforce combined with insufficient new entrants into the trades is a recipe for disaster. While there is interest from younger generations, the current apprentice-to-journeyman ratios hinder their ability to get the necessary training. If we don’t address this soon, we could see a significant slowdown in housing development.”

• “Municipalities need to be more proactive in supporting development. The demand for housing is rising, but are we seeing the necessary policies and frameworks that encourage innovative solutions? Local governments must step up and facilitate rather than hinder the process.”

• “Institutional investors bring not just capital but also a long-term vision. They’re interested in sustainable, scalable models like land leasing, which can drive innovation in the housing sector. It could really change the game for affordability.”

Episode Resources

• Parkbridge Website
• Aaron Cameron on LinkedIn
• Adam Powadiuk on LinkedIn
• First National Website

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