It probably would. The more housing there is, the greater the number of housing units available, and the easier it is to reach affordability. Having a target of 20% off-market housing would probably be an important step in restoring affordability, which is currently at a very low level.
In that regard, we analyzed the various programs offered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the federal government in general and found that the definition of “affordable housing” varies from one program to another. Some large programs define affordable housing as having a rental price below the market median. In regions such as Toronto or Montreal, a unit renting for under $2000 per month could therefore be considered affordable. Yet that is not what is generally considered to be affordable housing. Paying $2000 in month is not generally affordable for families with average and below average incomes.