Housing Minister Says He Didn’t Need Briefing Note to Understand Immigration Impact on Supply

A document obtained through an access-to-information request warned the feds in 2022 that ‘population growth has exceeded the growth in available housing.’

Housing Minister Sean Fraser rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 11, 2023. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Housing Minister Sean Fraser has reacted to a news report saying his government was warned internally two years ago that high immigration levels would impact housing affordability.

“I don’t think anybody needs a briefing note to understand that having more people in the housing market impacts the housing market,” Mr. Fraser said during a press conference in Halifax on Jan. 15.