CMHC Assessing Impact of Fort McMurray Forest Fires

As the state of emergency in Fort McMurray continues, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is monitoring the situation closely and will work with its partners to support those affected by the devastating forest fires. Specific information as to what properties have been damaged is still very limited but CMHC is working to better understand its exposure as more information becomes available.

Mortgage Loan Insurance
CMHC has provided lenders with a number of options to support CMHC-insured homeowners affected by these unfortunate events. Homeowners are encouraged to contact their financial institution at the first sign of difficulty to discuss their individual situations and options.

Mortgage loan insurance protects lenders against mortgage default. CMHC mortgage loan insurance does not provide coverage for force majeure. Lenders are required to maintain standard all-risk insurance to protect against loss or damage by fire to buildings and contents. CMHC’s potential loss is therefore limited to claims resulting from the indirect economic consequences of the event such as a decline in property value.

A detailed summary and explanation of CMHC’s exposure is outlined in the backgrounder below.

Claim losses to CMHC are not expected to be significant as lenders work directly with borrowers to address any required repairs, recoup losses under existing property insurance policies and access any disaster relief, emergency funds and/or other assistance as available and appropriate.

CMHC will continue to monitor the situation and will consider additional default management tools to further assist lenders as the rebuilding situation unfolds. As Canada’s national mortgage loan insurer, CMHC’s continued presence will play a stabilizing role and help the residents of Fort McMurray meet their housing needs.

Assisted Housing
CMHC provides funding to housing providers under a variety of operating agreements directly and through the Province of Alberta under federal-provincial agreements. CMHC also has ongoing operating agreements with three First Nations in the affected area, the Fort McMurray First Nation, the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation and the Fort McKay First Nation, who receive subsidy funding from CMHC under the On-Reserve Non-Profit Housing Program.

CMHC has not received any reports of damaged or destroyed federally subsidized social housing units or to the three First Nation communities in and around the Fort McMurray area.

Should federally subsidized social housing units become damaged or destroyed, CMHC will work with housing providers, the Alberta Ministry of Seniors and Housing and the Alberta Emergency Management Agency to rebuild and/or relocate residents.

CMHC is keeping lines of communication open with the First Nation. Should homes on reserve become damaged or destroyed, CMHC will work with the First Nation, their insurer, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and Alberta Emergency Management Agency.

Securitization
CMHC Securitization ensures an adequate supply of funds for mortgage lending and the availability of mortgage credit in Canada through the guarantee of National Housing Act Mortgage-Backed Securities (NHA MBS) and Canada Mortgage Bonds (CMB).

The securitization exposure to mortgages in Fort McMurray is mostly through large diversified financial institutions and no NHA MBS Issuer appears to be overly concentrated in the area or incapable of absorbing potential losses. Consequently, the probability of any securitizationrelated losses to CMHC is remote.

For lenders with securitized loans, CMHC is having discussions to explain workout techniques that will allow the loans to remain in the securitized pools.