Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

CMHC logo
Crown corporation overview
Formed January 1, 1946 (1946-01-01)
Superseding agency
  • Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation 1946-1979
Headquarters Ottawa, Ontario
Annual budget $2.1 billion[1]
Minister responsible
Crown corporation executives
  • Evan Siddall[2], President and CEO
  • Marie-Claude Tremblay[2], Chief of Staff
  • Brian Naish, Senior Vice-President[2]
Website CMHC official site

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada,[3] through the 1944 National Housing Act, the federal government already played a leading role in Canadian housing programs. As World War II veterans returned, CMHC's programs supported social and rental housing and created public housing program for low-income families. New housing was offered very low cost mortgages, small down payments and easy terms.[3][4] It later built and/or funded urban renewal projects in Canada's cities. CMHC is regulated under the Financial Administration Act, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Act, and the National Housing Act. By 2013 the major role of the CMHC was to "improve housing quality, choice and affordability for all Canadians."[1] With an estimated 2013-2014 budget of $2.1 billion, over $2 billion is directed at providing assistance to Canadians in housing need while the balance supports "housing market analysis work and policy, research, and information transfer activities."[1] By 2010 CMHC had an annual financial surplus of more than $2 billion.[5] CMHC is the largest Crown Corporation in terms of assets with some $26 billion in holdings as of 2008-2009.[5] and the second largest after Canada Post in terms of revenue with some $4.6 billion in 2004.[5]

CMHC is governed by a Board of Directors and is accountable to Parliament through the, Minister of Employment and Social Development. Previously the portfolio was held by the Minister of Labour and Housing. The board of directors and president are appointed by the Government of Canada.

One of the main functions of CMHC is to manage the federal Mortgage Insurance Fund (MIF), which was introduced in 1954 to provide protection to banks reluctant to enter the mortgage lending market.[6]

Today its main function is to sell insurance to Canadian residential mortgage lenders to protect them against mortgage defaults. The cost of the insurance premiums is typically passed along to the borrower.[7] Insurance is mandatory on loans with less than 20% down although lenders may require it on loans with more than 20% equity if they perceive additional risk of default). Besides mortgage insurance, the agency provides financing to housing projects and renovations, does housing market analysis and funds research into housing design and technologies along with the National Research Council. The mandate of CMHC, as Canada's national housing agency, includes facilitating accessibility to a "wide choice of quality, environmentally sustainable, affordable housing solutions."[8]

History

CMHC headquarters, at Montreal Road and the Aviation Parkway, Ottawa

Near the end of World War II, the Canadian government began to worry about the demobilization of thousands of soldiers in Europe, and their re-entrance to Canadian society.

With so many people coming back to Canada, a number of problems would arise, one being that there may not be enough housing existing to accommodate the soldiers and their desire to have families.

The agency was created in 1946 in response to housing demands after the return of World War II veterans and societal changes after the war included a policy that every family in Canada have their own home.

In 1946 when the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (changed to "Canada" Mortgage and Housing Corporation in 1979) was created, the National Housing Act had been in effect for two years.[3] The cost and subsidies of CMHC's social and rental housing programs for low-income families, were shared 75% by the federal government and 25% by the province.[3] New housing was offered very low cost mortgages, small down payments and easy terms.[3][4] It later built and/or funded urban renewal projects in Canada's cities.

CMHC's role was to aid in the management and finance of housing projects in Canadian cities. It took over the assets of the Wartime Housing Ltd., that had built thousands of houses during the war. Upon creation, the Corporation was named Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

During the war, Ajax, Ontario, was constructed and operated by Wartime Housing Limited (1941 to 1949) in order to provide much-needed housing for munitions workers and returning veterans. In 1948, CMHC was given responsibility for Ajax. Its biggest challenges in establishing Ajax as a functioning municipality were reimbursing Pickering Township and Ontario County for municipal services provided to Ajax and establishing an official plan for the growing community acceptable to relevant government agencies. After considerable controversy regarding land and water control, CMHC submitted a successful application to the Ontario Municipal Board in May 1950 making Ajax an improvement district. This was the first step toward municipal status and allowed CMHC to the depart.[9]

In the 1950s and 1960s, CMHC was the agency that approved urban renewal projects for federal funding and managed the housing funds for that purpose. There are numerous examples across Canada including Regent Park in Toronto and Habitations Jeanne-Mance in Montreal. For further examples, see List of public housing projects in Canada.

In 1954, the federal government amended the National Housing Act to remove the federal government from the direct finance of private housing projects, instead leaving mortgage financing to the banks. The banks thereafter began to issue mortgage loans with CMHC underwriting. If the individual receiving the loan went bankrupt then the bank who gave the loan would not lose money, but instead would be reimbursed by the government. As part of CMHC lending and insurance mechanisms, low-risk borrowers would have to pay insurance premiums if they wanted to borrow with small down-payments.

In 1979, the Corporation's name was changed to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

In the 1980s, the federal government withdrew from the financing of public housing projects. CMHC no longer directed funds to municipalities for the building of housing projects. Some government housing funds and mortgage guarantees since then have been provided for individual projects.

Budget

In May 2013 CMHC VP Douglas Stewart reported on estimates of the 2013-2014 budget.[1]

In 2013-14, CMHC is estimating budget expenditures of $2.1 billion. Just over $2 billion of this amount will be used to provide assistance to Canadians in housing need, including low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, aboriginal people, and victims of family violence. The balance will support CMHC's housing market analysis work and policy, research, and information transfer activities. CMHC's estimated budgetary expenditures for 2013-14 represent a net decrease of $39.2 million from last year's main estimates. The difference is mainly due to savings as a result of budget 2012 reductions, reduced expenditures due to the expiry of long-term housing project operating agreements, and changes in the timing of funding requirements for new commitments of affordable housing. These reductions are partially offset by increases in operating expenses and an increase in funding for housing construction and rehabilitation on reserve. The main estimates also reflect non-budgetary expenditures for CMHC. The number in the estimates is negative, as we will repay more than we borrow from the consolidated revenue fund in 2013-14. CMHC is estimating non-budgetary repayments of $41.9 billion this fiscal year, primarily due to changes in loan repayments under the insured mortgage purchase program.
— Douglas Stewart[1]

CMHC is the largest Crown Corporation in terms of assets with some $26 billion in holdings as of 2008-2009.[5]

In 2013-2014 the CMHC reported a financial source-reflecting the difference between cash coming in to the Government and cash going out-of $17.5 billion in 2013-2014 and $30.2 billion in 2012–13. "It differs from the budgetary balance, which measures revenues and expenses as they are earned or incurred rather than when the associated cash is received or paid...This change is largely due to the repayment of principal on assets maturing under the Insured Mortgage Purchase Program (IMPP) administered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)."[11]

Influence over housing projects

CMHC provides assistance and guidance to the private sector in the building, design and planning of houses. Thus provincial governments have aligned their housing standards and planning practices along those of CMHC.

CMHC also makes financial loans to cities at lower interest rates for the development of housing projects.

Thus, both the cities and provinces in Canada rely on CMHC for the continuation of housing development in the areas under their jurisdiction.

This alignment has had a number of influences on Canadian housing in general:

Affordable housing

Hotel Europe in Vancouver was re-developed for affordable housing with CMHC funding in 1983.

CMHC invested $1.9 billion (2009-2014) for housing and homelessness programs for "homeless people and those at risk of homelessness-low-income Canadians, seniors, people with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal Canadians"[12] and $2 billion (2009-2011) more towards the construction and renovation of existing social housing units.[12]

Recent developments

By May 2012, CMHC had approved 272 loans for the full $2 billion available under the Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (MILP) (2009-2012) which provided low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure projects: "water, wastewater and solid waste services, fire halls and power generation; local transportation infrastructure within or into residential areas, such as roads, bridges and tunnels; and residential sidewalks, lighting, pathways and green space."[8] Directly and indirectly the program responds to the crisis of affordability of housing in Canada but also to the federal government's top priority, which is job creation and economic growth.

In 2003, the Liberal Government of Jean Chrétien announced changes to CMHC mortgage insurance guidelines:[13]

In 2007, the Conservative Government of Stephen Harper announced changes to CMHC mortgage insurance guidelines:[14]

In February 2010, the Conservative Government of Stephen Harper reversed course and announced changes to CMHC mortgage insurance guidelines:[15]

In January 2011, the Government of Canada announced changes to CMHC mortgage insurance guidelines:[16]

In June 2012, the Government of Canada announced further tightening of the criteria necessary to qualify for government-backed insurance on new home mortgages with less than a 20 per cent down payment:[17]

These most recent changes to the criteria for CMHC-backed mortgage insurance largely return the qualifications for low loan-to-value ratio mortgages back to where they were in 2006, when CMHC and its private sector competitors started insuring mortgages with no down payments and amortization periods of up to 40 years.[18]

Subsequently, Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty stated that he would like to see CMHC privatized in the next five to 10 years, arguing CMHC has greatly exceeded its original mandate to provide housing to veterans of the Second World War and that taxpayer exposure to the housing market should be reduced.[19]

Current issues

All Canadian mortgage securities are traded on an open exchange and insured by the Government of Canada.

Large projects

Among its early projects was the Regent Park project in Toronto.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Stewart, Douglas (23 May 2013). "Human Resources Committee on May 23rd, 2013". Open Parliament. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Our Management Committee". Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "History of CMHC". Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 Bumsted, J. M. (Oct–Nov 1992). "Home sweet suburb". Beaver 72 (5): 26–34.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Savoie, Denise (17 June 2010). "Debates of June 17th, 2010". Open Parliament. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  6. ↑ Hulchanski, J. David (9 May 2003). What Factors Shape Canadian Housing Policy? The Intergovernmental Role in Canada’s Housing System (PDF). Conference on Municipal-Federal-Provincial Relations in Canada. Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.
  7. ↑ "How Much Does CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance Cost?". Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
  8. 1 2 Announcement — Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (Speech). Québec City, Québec: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. May 23, 2012. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  9. ↑ McGeachy, Robert (Autumn 2006). "CMHC in Ajax, Ontario: 1948-1950". Ontario History 98 (2): 209–224. ISSN 0030-2953.
  10. ↑ CMHC (31 March 2013). Quarterly Financial Report (Report). Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  11. ↑ CMHC (31 March 2014). Quarterly Financial Report (PDF) (Report).
  12. 1 2 "Minister Finley delivers keynote address at conference on housing and homelessness" (Press release). Employment and Social Development Canada. February 18, 2009.
  13. ↑ Economic Analysis of the Statutory Requirement for Insurance on High-Ratio Mortgage Loans (Report). Department of Finance Canada. May 26, 2005.
  14. ↑ "Backgrounder Residential Mortgage Insurance" (Press release). Department of Finance Canada. 3 November 2008.
  15. ↑ "Government of Canada Takes Action to Strengthen Housing Financing" (Press release). Department of Finance Canada. February 16, 2010.
  16. ↑ "The Harper Government Takes Prudent Action to Support the Long-Term Stability of Canada’s Housing Market" (Press release). Department of Finance Canada. January 17, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Harper Government Takes Further Action to Strengthen Canada’s Housing Market" (Press release). Department of Finance Canada. June 21, 2012.
  18. ↑ "CMHC adds 40-year term, 100% funds as products". National Post. November 20, 2006.
  19. ↑ Perkins, Tara (October 22, 2012). "Flaherty eyes privatization of CMHC". The Globe and Mail.

External links

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