Review Panel on the Lack of Accessible Housing in Canada

The review panel on the lack of accessible housing has launched its written hearing. Submissions will be accepted until June 22 2026.

The National Housing Council's third review panel has been established to hold a hearing on the lack of accessible housing at the request of the Federal Housing Advocate.

Review Panel Members

The review panel members were appointed based on their experience, knowledge, and interest related to the issue.

Review panels are mandated by the National Housing Strategy Act. They are required to hold a hearing that is open to the public, especially people who are directly affected by the issue. After the hearing, review panels deliver a final report with recommendations to the federal minister responsible for housing. The Minister is required to respond to the review panel's report within 120 days. Learn more about review panels here.

From March 26 to June 5, 2026, the review panel on the lack of accessible housing in Canada will hold a written hearing to collect submissions through an online form. Any individual or organization can make a submission. During spring and summer 2026, the review panel will hold oral hearings, online and in-person, to speak directly with people with lived experience and other experts. The oral hearings will be by invitation.

Questions

The review panel will examine three questions:

1. How is the lack of accessible housing affecting people in Canada?
2. What system-wide gaps, and what government actions and inactions, are getting in the way of Canada's progress on the right to housing and the rights of persons with disabilities?
3. What actions and solutions should governments and communities lead to make better progress on the right to accessible housing for people with disabilities in Canada?

These questions will help the review panel develop clear and actionable recommendations to the Minister.

Overarching Principles

The review panel members will embrace the following principles to guide their hearing and report:

1. Genuine Involvement: The panel commits to meaningful conversations where participants' ideas and experiences shape the panel's understanding and recommendations.
2. Relationship-Centered Approach: The panel will encourage trust and respect by listening actively and creating spaces where all voices feel valued and included.
3. Embracing Different Identities and Experiences: The panel will recognize and honour the unique and diverse points of view within communities.
4. Planning Ahead and Adjusting as Needed: The panel will make sure that the process is accessible. It will be flexible to deal with any visible, invisible, and unexpected barriers during the hearing.
5. Human Rights-Based Foundation: The panel will make sure that affected communities can participate in a meaningful way. It will strive to make sure that no one is left behind.
6. "Nothing About Us, Without Us": The panel will make sure that its decisions and recommendations reflect the voices and priorities of the people most affected by the lack of accessible housing.

The review panel members also know that people may define key terms in different ways, our Frequently Asked Questions page includes a few working definitions related to the right to adequate housing and disability.