Robert Gammon errs again:

Canada says all new houses there should be equipped with an air to air
heat exchanger that ventilate the house several times a day (I forget
the actual spec)

Do let us know when you find this alleged spec. Meanwhilst, you might
explain the new houses in Ontario with exhaust fans vs ERVs.

Even Washington state mandates a ventilation system in all new
residential construction (they don't say what it has to be just that
there is one)

Sounds like an exhaust fan would qualify there as well.

Nick