VCREP #180 | Why Developers Can’t Build Homes in Today’s Market
Wed Feb 04 2026
This week, Cory Wright welcomes back Brad Jones, Chief Development Officer at Wesgroup, to unpack why building new housing has become so challenging in today’s market. They discuss everything from massive upfront costs and rising municipal fees to the unintended consequences of consumer protection legislation like the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA).
The conversation also explores potential policy changes that could help unlock stalled projects, including removing GST on new housing and revisiting property transfer taxes. Brad offers a candid look at the hurdles developers face, why housing supply is struggling to keep up with demand, and what needs to change to get projects moving again.
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This week, Cory Wright welcomes back Brad Jones, Chief Development Officer at Wesgroup, to unpack why building new housing has become so challenging in today’s market. They discuss everything from massive upfront costs and rising municipal fees to the unintended consequences of consumer protection legislation like the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA). The conversation also explores potential policy changes that could help unlock stalled projects, including removing GST on new housing and revisiting property transfer taxes. Brad offers a candid look at the hurdles developers face, why housing supply is struggling to keep up with demand, and what needs to change to get projects moving again.