What this means for Canada’s shift toward industrialized delivery.
Canada’s housing system is experiencing one of the most significant structural shifts in decades. With the release of Build Canada Homes (BCH) Investment Policy Framework, alongside federal actions to stabilize Canada’s softwood lumber and steel supply chains, the direction is unmistakable:
Industrialized, factory-built construction is becoming a central pillar in the country’s long-term housing strategy.
For modular construction leaders across Canada, including our facility based in Bow Island, Alberta, these new policy signals reinforce what the industry has championed for years: that Modern Methods of Construction (modular, prefab, panelized systems, volumetric construction, and BIM-enabled workflows) are essential tools for delivering affordable housing at scale, reliably and quickly.
Below, we explore what these updates mean for the sector, why modular construction is uniquely positioned to help Canada meet its ambitious housing targets, and how ROC Modular is ready to support municipalities, non-profits, Indigenous communities, and developers navigating BCH pathways.
Why the Build Canada Homes Framework Matters Right Now
Released on November 27, 2025, the BCH Investment Policy Framework provides a clearer understanding of how the federal government intends to structure, fund, and accelerate affordable housing delivery across provinces and territories.
This framework is especially relevant for organizations in Western Canada, where communities in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba continue to experience fast population growth and chronic shortages of attainable housing. Many municipalities, from Calgary to Kelowna to Fort Mac, are seeking solutions that allow them to build quickly while controlling costs and ensuring long-term durability.
The BCH framework makes one thing clear:
“Modern construction technologies that shorten timelines, reduce carbon output, and rely on domestic supply chains will receive preference.”
For modular firms, this is the strongest demand signal the industry has ever seen.
Here’s what stands out in the new framework:
1. Shovel-Ready Projects Within 12 Months
BCH will prioritize projects capable of breaking ground or beginning production within a year. This requirement naturally elevates factory-based construction, where production runs are shielded from climate variability and can begin immediately once permits and engineering are finalized.
In cold-weather regions like Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Northern British Columbia, modular construction mitigates weather-related delays—an enormous advantage when working under tight BCH timelines.
2. Portfolio-Based Housing Submissions
A transformative update for the industry: BCH encourages portfolio submissions, enabling multiple projects across multiple sites to be bundled into one coordinated housing pipeline.
Why this matters for modular:
- Steady plant utilization reduces cost per unit
- Repeatable designs increase economies of scale
- Predictable labour planning increases efficiency
- Outputs can be timed to municipal or client milestones
This approach is ideal for private developers, Indigenous housing authorities, non-profit developers, municipalities, and provincial agencies seeking predictable, scalable delivery across several communities.
3. Factory Capacity Support… But Only for Confirmed Pipelines
BCH may support investments in modular factory capacity, but only when tied to a specific affordable housing portfolio. This avoids speculative manufacturing growth and ensures that public dollars directly support new, guaranteed housing supply.
For manufacturers like ROC Modular, which already operate a CSA A277-certified facility in Bow Island, Alberta, this alignment creates a clear path for responsible, demand-driven expansion when supported by BCH-backed housing portfolios.
Understanding What the BCH Will and Will Not Fund
To avoid confusion and streamline the application process, BCH has outlined explicit guardrails.
| BCH Will Fund | BCH Will Not Fund |
| Affordable housing projects using MMC | General business development or marketing |
| Housing pipelines that use factory-built methods to accelerate delivery | Factory expansion unrelated to specific projects |
| Projects that incorporate Canadian-made, low-carbon building materials | Research and development unrelated to a BCH-affordable housing pipeline |
| Portfolios where modular construction directly supports affordability targets | Capacity growth without a committed housing portfolio. |
| Factory investments tied to confirmed BCH housing portfolios |
This clarity allows modular firms to strategically position themselves as implementation partners, not just passive bidders.
ROC Modular fits the criteria. Check out our housing projects in the link below:
https://rocmodular.com/industry-categories/social-affordable-housing/
The Rise of Wood-Based MMC and “Build Canadian” Priorities
One of the most significant advantages for modular construction in Canada comes from the federal government’s material priorities. Across BC and related announcements, the government repeatedly emphasizes:
- Canadian-made softwood lumber
- Mass timber and engineered wood systems
- Low-carbon, domestically supplied building materials
This creates a powerful alignment for modular manufacturers in provinces like British Columbia and Alberta, where forestry ecosystems and MMC capacity coexist.
With the federal government actively linking housing investment to local economic development and domestic supply chains, modular companies using Canadian materials gain a competitive advantage, particularly for projects seeking BCH funding.
How Modular Construction Helps Solve Canada’s Affordable Housing Challenge
Traditional construction is struggling to keep pace with Canada’s rapid production growth, especially in major regions like Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and dozens of mid-sized municipalities experiencing migration surges.
Modular construction offers several structural advantages:
- Speed: Modular builds are completed 30-50% faster than traditional construction. This directly aligns with federal goals to accelerate delivery.
- Cost Predictability: Factory environments reduce schedule risk and labour inefficiencies. BCH’s affordability targets become easier to achieve through controlled fabrication.
- Climate Resilience: Modular facilities operate year-round, reducing exposure to extreme Canada weather.
- Quality & Performance: Controlled manufacturing environments support higher energy performance, reduced waste, and consistent workmanship.
- Indigenous & Remote Housing Applications: Modular is highly effective in northern regions where labour shortages and extreme weather impede site-built construction.
These strengths position modular as the backbone of Canada’s next generation of affordable and supportive housing.
How ROC Modular Supports BCH Project Portal Submissions
BCH has officially launched their portal. This new platform provides a streamlined way to submit proposals for shovel-ready projects aimed at increasing the supply of affordable, non-market, and community housing across Canada. Our experience across Western Canada, combined with decades of modular expertise, makes our company a valuable partner for organizations preparing for BCH submissions.
Portfolio-Based Housing Strategy Support
We help our clients design and structure housing portfolios that align with BCH evaluation criteria including:
- Repeatable volumetric designs
- Optimized site sequencing
- Cost modeling for multi-site pipelines
- Climate-optimized modular envelopes
Deep Affordable Housing & Community Infrastructure Experience
We’ve delivered:
- Supportive housing
- Transitional housing
- Indigenous community housing
- Multi-unit residential developments
- Educational and health-related infrastructure
This proven track record demonstrates readiness for BCH’s rapid-deployment expectations.
Made in Canada Modular Solutions
From our Bow Island, Alberta manufacturing facility, we use:
- Canadian softwood lumber
- Locally sourced materials
- CSA A277-certified quality processes
This directly supports BCH’s domestic supply chain and climate priorities.
Flexible Delivery Models
ROC can support:
- Modular-only fabrication
- Full support to curate project teams for turnkey delivery
- Collaborative design and engineering
- Multi-site deployment strategies
Strategic Partnerships Across Western Canada
We work closely with housing authorities, Indigenous communities, architects, engineering firms, and provincial agencies to create scalable, repeatable solutions across the Prairies and beyond.
A Defining Moment for Modular Construction in Canada
With the launch of the BCH Investment Policy Framework and strengthened federal support for Canada’s lumber supply chain, the modular construction sector is entering its most supportive policy landscape in history.
Canada needs housing that’s affordable, fast, high-quality, and climate-aligned. Modern Methods of Construction, and modular in particular, offer a proven path forward.
ROC Modular stands ready to support municipalities, developers, non-profits, and Indigenous housing organizations in building the next generation of Canadian-made, factory-built homes.
If you’re developing a BCH-Aligned housing strategy or exploring portfolio-based modular delivery, the ROC Modular team is ready to help.
Let’s build a scalable future for communities across Canada
