Helping people enter the housing market has been a growing preoccupation for the Liberals ever since they were elected in 2015, with soaring real-estate prices in some of Canada's largest cities putting home ownership beyond the reach of many.

B.C. Attorney General David Eby is considering a B.C. licensing system for money transfer and foreign exchange businesses, which are vulnerable to money launderers.

According to an Altus Group report, Toronto and Vancouver are staring down another turbulent year in which housing starts will fall. Montreal, on the other hand, expects to keep riding high until at least next year—although affordability challenges and a cooling economy will soon catch up with buyers, while possible immigration restrictions could dampen housing demand. While housing starts will remain elevated in Montreal through 2019, that should change by 2020.