OTTAWA, ON — U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber and wood products could create an unexpected opportunity to support housing supply. While tariffs continue to weigh on Canada’s economy, new research from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) shows they may make more Canadian wood products available for domestic use, helping reduce construction costs for certain types of housing.  CMHC Chief Economist, Mathieu Laberge’s latest analysis suggests if Canadian wood products were used more consistently in domestic homebuilding, annual ground-oriented housing starts could increase by approximately 3.5%, resulting in nearly 4,000 additional homes per year. Construction costs for this type of housing could also fall by as much as 17% in some centres. Detached homes and townhouses would benefit most, as they rely heavily on wood products compared to high-rise apartment buildings.