The Modular Building Institute (MBI), an industry lobby group for the modular housing construction industry, registered to lobby federally on April 17 and in B.C. on April 22 to “advocate for the adoption of modular construction in various sectors, including affordable housing, education and healthcare,” and “engage on regulations impacting modular construction, including building codes and standards.” In B.C., it also wants to discuss how provincial taxes apply to modular buildings.

The registrations follow federal Liberal party promises on the campaign trail to build 500,000 new homes per year. The plan includes specific measures for modular homes. The party promised to provide “$25 billion in debt financing and $1 billion in equity financing” to Canadian prefabricated home builders. According to the party, “prefabricated and modular housing can reduce construction times by up to 50 per cent, costs by up to 20 per cent and emissions by up to 22 per cent compared to traditional construction methods.”