Global Scans · Real Estate · Weekly Summary

• [New] More US deliveries of air defence systems might come after the US House of Representatives passed a package over the weekend of $61 billion in support, including $13.8 billion for Ukraine to buy weapons. The Boston Globe
• [New] Today's announcement will invest billions to ensure that affordable housing across the U.S. can access solar and increase energy efficiency and climate resilience. US EPA
• [New] $976 million will be provided to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation over 5 years, starting in 2024 to 2025, to build housing for people who are not able to afford housing built under existing programs. National Union of Public and General Employees
• [New] The US House of Representatives on Saturday approved long-delayed military aid to Ukraine in a rare show of bipartisan unity, while also bolstering Israel and Taiwan defences and threatening to ban Chinese-owned TikTok. Yahoo News
• [New] Members in the US House of Representatives have quickly passed legislation to provide to Ukraine and Israel and bolster Taiwan while also threatening a ban on TikTok if it fails to divest from Beijing. RTE
• [New] The House of Representatives on Saturday passed a bill that includes more than $14 billion in military aid to Israel and more than $9 billion in humanitarian aid, much of which will go to Gaza. Insider
• [New] The House of Representatives voted 360 to 58 on the updated divest-or-ban bill that could lead to the first time ever that the US government has passed a law to shut down an entire social media platform. The Guardian
• [New] The US House of Representatives will finally vote on Saturday on a series of foreign aid bills, bringing an end to a months-long standoff in Congress led mostly by Republicans who refuse to support funding Ukraine's ongoing military defence against Russia's invasion. The Guardian
• [New] 3bn people will need access to housing by 2030, which indicates demand for 96,000 new accessible housing units every day. Insights
• [New] Russia could be encouraged by the U.S. debate over aid for Ukraine and called on the House of Representatives to pass a Ukraine aid bill. CNBC
• [New] Building More Homes - Budget 2024 proposes to provide an additional $400 million over four years, starting in 2024-25, to the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation, to top up the Housing Accelerator Fund. Construction Association Of Nova Scotia
• [New] In late March, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to ban the use of Copilot by House staff, citing the risk of leaking sensitive data to unapproved cloud services. SC Media
• [New] Housing starts in Canada are expected to decline in 2024 before recovering in 2025 and 2026, reflecting the lagged effect of higher interest rates on new construction. Global News
• From a household perspective, energy efficiency measures can improve housing conditions, as often reported in the UK and Northern Irish context, but they can also threaten to increase housing costs and lower housing security. MDPI
• $477.2M over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $147.8M in future years, to launch a new $1.5 B Canada Rental Protection Fund, to be administered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, to protect the stock of affordable housing in Canada. Miller Thomson LLP
• $112.6M over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $4.3 million in future years, for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to top up the Federal Lands Initiative to unlock more federal lands for affordable housing providers. Miller Thomson LLP
• US fiscal policy poses a risk both to US disinflation and to global long-term interest rates unless the United States gets its fiscal house in order. Atlantic Council
• Canada's Housing Plan delivers funding and support that will help provinces and local governments end exclusionary zoning, freeze development charges, and build housing enabling infrastructure. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board
• Today's announcement by Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister Freeland and Minister Fraser of Canada's Housing Plan is a historic commitment to addressing the housing crisis that is projected to unlock 3.87 million new homes by 2031. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board
• In 2024, cybersecurity continues a shift from a mere technological concern to a critical business issue thanks to global conflicts, major elections (including that of the White House), looming terrorist threats, and other developments. Blog | TechMagic
• In terms of regional demand, China is expected to maintain its steel demand levels in 2024 compared to 2023, with declines in real estate investments offset by growth in infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. petromindo
• The White House has pitched its 2024-25 federal budget as helping to subdue inflation, by lowering working families' living costs and forcing companies to pass-on cost savings. The Conversation
• To assist with hardening the U.S. economy and infrastructure against cyberattacks and the malicious use of AI, the White House included $13 billion for cybersecurity in its 2025 fiscal plan. JD Supra

Last updated: 27 April 2024