The federal government has appointed Coleen Volk as President and CEO of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Don Iveson will serve as chairman of the board of directors.
These appointments from Infrastructure Canada, which has also appointed several other board members, come as the country grapples with a housing crisis that has strained household budgets and has become a crucial issue for the government.
Mme Volk has extensive professional experience, including Deputy Minister in the Government of Alberta, Assistant Deputy Minister at the federal level. She also worked at CIBC in corporate treasury and worked for nine years at CMHC, notably as assistant vice-president of finance.
Mr. Iveson served as mayor of Edmonton from 2013 to 2021, where the federal government notes he oversaw “the development and execution of density-friendly housing supply and regulatory reforms” in Edmonton.
The appointment of Mme Volk comes after former CEO Romy Bowers resigned at the end of 2023, halfway through her five-year term.
Housing Minister Sean Fraser said in a statement that he looks forward to working closely with Mme Volk and the CMHC Board of Directors on Canada’s housing priorities.