Ontario's latest legislation promised to fast-track housing and infrastructure approvals
Ontario’s real estate sector has welcomed the provincial government’s proposed Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, describing it as a “big step in the right direction” for tackling the province’s chronic housing shortage and modernizing infrastructure approvals.
The bill, tabled by Premier Doug Ford’s government, proposes changes to streamline municipal approvals, standardize development charges, and reduce regulatory burdens in the Building Code.
The legislation would also create a new public corporation for water and wastewater services, initially in Peel Region, to broaden financing options and reduce reliance on development charges for infrastructure.
Additionally, the bill’s emphasis on transit-oriented communities and expedited site planning could help address bottlenecks in housing delivery along new GO Transit corridors.
“Enhancing and expediting site planning execution in order to support timely housing delivery along new GO Transit stations” was highlighted as a key priority in the announcement.
Rental market reforms are also included, with proposals to improve speed and fairness at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).
Measures such as increasing enforcement resources, streamlining procedures, and clarifying notice requirements reflect recommendations from the Ontario Real Estate Association’s (OREA) recent policy report, A Fair Rental Market for a Stronger Ontario.
OREA said these measures closely align with solutions it and Ontario REALTORS have advocated for in recent years, particularly around cutting red tape and bringing more housing supply to market.
Cathy Polan, president of OREA, pointed to the bill’s focus on “removing outdated or unnecessary requirements that complicate and delay housing developments” and “improving the efficiency and transparency of municipal land use planning.”
“If we want to protect Ontario workers, create economic prosperity across the province, and build strong communities, we need our leaders to take bold action and get shovels in the ground to build more housing and infrastructure,” said Polan.
“Luckily, the latest housing legislation introduced today by the Government of Ontario is a big step in the right direction for the future of Ontario.”
The province has faced criticism for slow progress on its pledge to build 1.5 million homes by 2031, with industry leaders repeatedly calling for faster approvals and less red tape.
In fact, Royal Bank of Canada CEO Dave McKay has warned that Canada’s fear of risk and slow approvals are holding back economic growth and hurting its global competitiveness.
Speaking at a Calgary Chamber of Commerce luncheon, McKay said, “We bubble wrap way too many things in this country because we’re afraid of making a mistake.”
He pointed to lengthy approval timelines and repeated false starts on major infrastructure projects as key obstacles. “Time costs money. Uncertainty costs money. Therefore, it’s very difficult for us as a country to move forward on things with any degree of confidence and speed, and the rest of the world feels that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Canada’s new home construction rebounded in September, with housing starts rising 14% from the previous month.
According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the six-month trend in housing starts was pushed higher in September, driven by significantly higher monthly starts in Ontario, Quebec, and the Prairie provinces.
“These solutions are exactly what we need to drive economic growth, develop critical infrastructure, bring more rental supply to market, and build much-needed homes – making a more prosperous and competitive Ontario,” Polan said.
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