New initiatives focus on unlocking housing options, improving LTB operations, and more
The Ontario government has proposed a series of legislative and regulatory changes aimed at addressing the province’s housing supply crisis as part of the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024.
The proposed legislation, outlined in the Fall 2024 Red Tape Reduction Package, focuses on removing barriers to development, improving regulatory efficiency, and creating more housing options for Ontarians.
One of the key proposals is to make it easier for homeowners to build additional residential units, such as garden suites, laneway homes, and basement apartments. The new rules would standardize requirements across the province, reducing or eliminating the need for rezoning or minor variances. By cutting down on red tape, the government aims to save time and costs for homeowners while accelerating the creation of new housing units.
To address delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), Ontario has proposed legislative amendments to streamline tribunal operations. The changes are intended to reduce the backlog of cases, improving access to justice for both landlords and tenants.
The government plans to strengthen the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act by giving Tarion, the province’s home warranty program, more authority to identify and act against illegal builders. These changes aim to protect homebuyers and ensure that legitimate builders are not undercut by non-compliant competitors.
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Proposals also include enabling building officials from Manitoba to practice in Ontario, helping to address shortages in areas like Northern Ontario. Ontario is also considering streamlining municipal reviews of engineer and architect-stamped building designs to expedite approvals. Additionally, the province seeks to centralize the management of its real estate assets under the minister of infrastructure, which could improve oversight and efficiency.
In a bid to support builders, the government is encouraging the use of pay-on-demand surety bonds as an alternative to letters of credit. This change could unlock funding for developers while maintaining financial security for municipalities.
While the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) welcomed the proposed measures, the organization emphasized the need for bolder steps to address the housing crisis, such as eliminating exclusionary zoning and increasing upzoning near transit corridors.
“We commend Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Red Tape Reduction Mike Harris for keeping their foot on the gas to streamline the building of much-needed homes and bring affordability back,” OREA president Rick Kedzior said in a statement.
“But more needs to be done if we are to solve the housing supply crisis in Ontario, such as eliminating exclusionary zoning and allowing more upzoning along major transit corridors. These are the types of bold action we need in order to get right back on track to build 1.5 million new homes by 2031.”
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