Winnipeg recorded a 12.3 per cent increase in housing starts in 2025, reaching 4,993 new homes — the second-highest annual total in the city’s history — according to newly released data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
This growth significantly outpaced the national trend, with Winnipeg’s construction rate more than doubling the Canadian average of 5.6 per cent.
The surge in construction follows three years of aggressive policy and planning changes at City Hall, signalling that recent decisions to modernize zoning, accelerate approvals, and unlock housing supply are effectively translating into action.
“This is what progress looks like,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “We’ve been focused on turning policy into shovels in the ground — and the results are now showing up. More homes are getting built, faster, in every part of the city.”
The 2025 results reflect a deliberate, coordinated effort to streamline planning rules and reduce barriers for developers and non-profits.
“The Mayor and Council have been pushing hard for change, and we know there is much more to do, but it is good to see hard data from CMHC about new housing coming to Winnipeg," said Councillor Evan Duncan, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development.
Key initiatives driving the increase in housing activity include:
- Winnipeg’s Housing Accelerator program: Leveraging federal funding to support thousands of new homes through financial incentives, zoning reform, and faster approvals.
- City-wide zoning and infill changes: Updates that allow for more multi-unit housing on smaller and underused lots, increasing density in established neighbourhoods.
- Process improvements: Overhauls to permitting and approval systems to reduce delays and development uncertainty.
- Redevelopment incentives: Programs specifically designed to encourage the redevelopment of vacant and underused properties, including City-owned lots.
- Focus on rentals: Continued momentum in purpose-built rental housing, including critical affordable and rent-geared-to-income units.
Gillingham noted that housing will remain a top priority in 2026, with major projects expected to move from approval to construction throughout the year. This includes new developments at the Water Tower District, Fulton Grove, Portage Place, and several sites supported by the Housing Accelerator Fund.
Additionally, housing projects currently under development in the downtown area are projected to add approximately 5,000 new residents.
“Winnipeg is growing, and this is about making sure our housing supply keeps pace,” said Gillingham. “We’re delivering more choice, more affordability, and more homes where people want to live.”
Source: CMHC Housing Market Information Portal - https://bit.ly/CMHChousingstartdata