The IDU is pleased to invite you to its fall conference: The Challenges of Housing Affordability, which will take place on October 7 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the InterContinental in the Nordheimer Room !

Why is it so difficult in 2025 to build homes that Quebec households can afford? What are the main obstacles? What levers are available to mitigate these difficulties? Among the possible solutions being considered, which are the most promising? These are some of the questions that will fuel the discussions during this conference.

To set the stage, Francis Cortellino, Quebec housing market economist at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), will present his latest data, providing a comprehensive overview of the residential market situation, which will fuel the discussions that follow. Speakers and panelists will include representatives and experts from a wide range of backgrounds: CMHC, Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), real estate developers, brokers, academics, and more. This major conference on the challenges of housing affordability will feature statistics, findings (existing obstacles and levers), and potential solutions.

Next, Nathalie Gauthier, Knowledge Transfer Specialist – External Relations at CMHC and Annie Grégoire, Vice-President of Networks and Housing Management at the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) will present the efforts of the federal and provincial governments to restore affordability. They will discuss programs, financial incentives, and project support.

To conclude the conference, we will have a panel discussion with:

• Tommy Archambault, President and Founder at Levier;

• Jean-Philippe Meloche, Professor at the School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Montreal;

• Mélanie Robitaille, Executive Vice President at Rachel Julien.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. with breakfast and a networking session. The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Places are limited—hurry and reserve yours!

Registration closes on October 6 at 12 noon (subject to availability).