Ontario appears to back away from goal of building 1.5 million homes in 10 years – “Ontario’s Ambitious 1.5 Million Homes Goal: Are We Straying Off Course?”

Ontario appears to be backing away from its goal of building 1.5 million homes over 10 years.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack introduced legislation Thursday that he said would streamline approvals and let developers build homes more quickly.

“Simply put, it takes too long and it costs too much to build infrastructure and homes in Ontario,” he said at a press conference.

“This legislation continues to build on the work we have done previously to create the conditions (for) homebuilders to do what they do best and that is to build.”

But when asked if it would spur the industry enough to allow the province to reach its 1.5 million home goal, Flack was noncommittal.

“I’m committed to getting shovels in the ground faster,” he said. “I’m looking at the next six to 12 months to get this thing kick started. The future will be the future. We’re in a housing crisis. We get it.”

WATCH | Expert explains what led to slowdown in Canada’s housing market:

What’s behind Canada’s housing market slump?

Murtaza Haider, executive director of the Cities Institute at the University of Alberta, says high costs and economic uncertainty from U.S. tariffs are causing a slowdown in sales for Canada’s housing market.

Ontario’s final tally for housing starts in 2024 was well off what’s needed to achieve 1.5 million homes, even with various new categories the government is adding such as university dorms, and the financial accountability officer says housing starts for the first quarter of 2025 were at the lowest levels since 2009.

Homebuilders have said that some of the most helpful measures governments could take to encourage development would be to reduce taxes and fees.

Measures in Flack’s legislation include prohibiting the city of Toronto from requiring green roofs and taking aim at other so-called green standards, speeding up the establishment of transit-oriented communities, allowing some minor variances as of right and facilitating faster minister’s zoning orders, which allow normal planning processes to be circumvented.

WATCH | Ontario consulted municipalities this summer to increase housing builds:

Ontario’s housing market is at a ‘standstill.’ Officials want to change that

Premier Ford’s government says it’s in talks with municipalities to change a billion-dollar fund at a time when new home construction has slowed. CBC’s Shawn Jeffords has reaction from critics who say the proposed plan isn’t enough to spur development.

Speeding up builds

Dave Wilkes, president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association, said he welcomed the legislation.

“This bill acknowledges and addresses the importance of producing housing supply faster, at a scale and cost to meet the needs of Ontario families,” he wrote in a statement.

The legislation also aims to tackle some rental issues, including delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board, and would shorten the notice period when tenants are being evicted due to non-payment of rent.

The bill also contains several transportation items.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said it includes ensuring commercial truck drivers on Ontario roads, particularly northern highways such as 11 and 17, are better equipped to handle road conditions such as heavy snowfall.

“One of the changes made here, to have a mandatory licence waiting period of Canadian driving experience of at least one year, would ensure that individuals (who) are here experience road conditions of all sorts before being eligible for a commercial vehicle licence,” he said.