CMHC is the Crown corporation that backstops the vast majority of Canada's housing market by insuring the loans that finance it. The CMHC would contribute that much to the home purchase in exchange for a corresponding equity stake in the home. That brings the buyer's mortgage down to just $340,000 for the home, instead of $380,000. Economist Craig Alexander says the shared equity mortgage plan has the potential to help with affordability issues. Other housing measuresThe first-time buyers' program wasn't the only housing-related announcement in the budget.

Source: CBC News March 19, 2019 20:26 UTC