How TCHC’s capital repairs support Canadian manufacturing impacted by US tariffs

Investing in TCHC goes beyond supporting Toronto’s local economy.

Federal capital funding for Toronto Community Housing (TCHC does more than maintain safe affordable housing for over 100,000 Torontonians. It directly supports Canadian manufacturing, supply chains, and jobs, especially in the aluminum and wood-product industries who are directly affected by US trade disruptions.

The scale of TCHC’s economic impact (2021-2025) 

TCHC is one of the largest public purchasers of Canadian-made residential building components including for aluminum and wood products.  

Aluminum products

  • US tariff on Canadian exports is 25 per cent for non-CUSMA compliant products. A non-CUSMA compliant product is a good that doesn't meet the rules of origin requirements under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
  • TCHC is a large purchaser of Canadian-made aluminum products. This includes windows used for TCHC envelope and holistic retrofit projects. Up to 60 per cent of costs for a single building retrofit project goes to purchasing aluminum windows, costing into the millions.
  • 8,871 windows were installed since 2021, totaling approximately $75 million.
  • Location of Canadian manufacturers and suppliers to TCHC:
    • Ontario: Markham, Toronto, Woodbridge, Concord, Mississauga, and Stony Creek. 
A worker in an open warehouse of aluminum window panes

Wood products

  • US tariff on Canadian exports: 50 per cent for kitchen cabinetry and vanities
  • TCHC is a large purchaser of Canadian-supplied millwork, including cabinetry, vanities, doors, and countertops. TCHC regularly purchases millwork for its State of Good Repair (SOGR), move-out, and accessibility programs.
  • 13,887 wood cabinets, pantries and vanities were installed since 2021, totally approximately $29 million
  • Location of Canadian mills and suppliers to TCHC:
    • Ontario: Hearst, Rutherglen, Kitchener, Ingersoll
    • Quebec: St. Casimir
A worker at a lumber mill

Why this Matters

Canadian aluminum and wood product manufacturers are facing economic uncertainty and reduced access to the US market due to tariffs. TCHC’s capital repair program provides stable, ongoing domestic demand that helps Canadian manufacturers:

  • keep production lines operating
  • retain skilled workers
  • invest locally rather than cut capacity.

TCHC’s capital repair program makes predictable, multi-year, domestically-driven demand possible. For these industries and local supply chains, federal housing investment will be a practical economic stabilizer. However, current National Housing Strategy (NHS) funding is set to end in 2027, significantly reducing the size and economic impact of TCHC’s capital repair program. Already, a lack of long-term funding is preventing TCHC from initiating multi-year capital projects that would generate new orders for Canadian manufacturers.  

Beyond housing – National Value Proposition

Continued federal funding for TCHC delivers three national benefits:

  1. Preserves Canada's largest stock of safe, well-maintained, affordable housing.
  2. Sustained demand for Canadian manufacturers facing US tariffs.
  3. Job support across multiple regions and provinces.