Ottawa’s $13-billion housing gamble is missing a critical safeguard

An occupational therapy review of standardized modular templates could ensure that every unit built from those plans meets basic functional accessibility standards.

Treat universal design as essential for building resilience and preventing health problems, not as a bonus feature, writes Irving Gold. Unsplash photograph by Raj Tuladhar

Opinion

BY IRVING GOLD

January 28, 2026

As shovels hit the ground on the first Build Canada Homes "Direct Build" sites, the government's $13-billion bet on modular housing enters its riskiest phase: execution. The promise is speed—cutting construction timelines by 50 per cent. The problem is that we will rapidly...

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