Northwest Territories
Ongoing
 
Since 2024, TAG has been conducting a research project, partially funded by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, that aims to investigate the barriers to housing access caused by the prescriptive application of national building codes in northern remote communities.
 
National building codes and standards have been developed in southern Canada and are rooted in that region's contexts and systems. National-level codes and standards are developed within a set of assumptions: for example, that reliable supply chains exist for the delivery of replacement parts; that certified labour is available to undertake repairs; and that energy sources are affordable to homeowners. These assumptions do not necessarily apply in remote communities in the far North. The application of nationwide ‘acceptable solutions’ can become inappropriate and problematic when it comes to real, on-the-ground outcomes for affordability, adequacy, and appropriateness of housing stock.
 
For this project, TAG sought to investigate these issues and propose recommendations or solutions for addressing them.
 
Phase 1 of the research focused on gathering information about northern residents’ present-day housing situations and experiences by conducting interviews with residents or technical home assessments in three NWT communities. We identified factors related to technical design and maintenance that significantly influence experiences of housing, and explored these issues in relation to the regulatory context.
 
In Phase 2, we used the information gathered to develop prototypes for a northern home that meet/exceed standards of occupant safety and comfort, while improving cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency, and appropriateness for the northern context.
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Research outputs will be posted on this page as they become available.
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