Membertou, N.S., faces a unique challenge in its housing sector: while it has secured funding for a record number of new homes, including 32 under Ottawa’s Rapid Housing Initiative and an additional 28 through the federal housing accelerator program, the community is struggling to find enough contractors to meet the demand. Chief Terry Paul describes this situation as a “happy problem,” highlighting the community’s effort to employ local contractors first before seeking external help. This struggle mirrors a broader national issue, where the demand for housing and skilled tradespeople far exceeds the supply, exacerbated by a significant investment of over $82 billion by the federal government in the national housing strategy. The Atlantic Home Building and Renovations Sector Council’s Michael Montgomery points out the critical shortage of homes and skilled workers, with provincial initiatives to train new trades workers unable to keep pace with the soaring demand. Despite these challenges, Membertou is taking steps to train residents for future construction projects, and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation has indicated flexibility with project deadlines, ensuring that funding won’t be lost due to the shortage of contractors.

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