Ontario introduced a new housing bill to speed up approvals and reduce costs, but the government is now non-committal about hitting its 1.5 million homes in 10 years target. Here’s what’s in the bill, why it matters, and the latest housing start data.
Quick takeaways
- Ontario introduced legislation to streamline approvals and lower building costs, but the minister stopped short of recommitting to the 1.5 million homes goal.
- 2024 housing starts were below what’s needed for the target, and Q1 2025 starts fell to the lowest level since 2009 according to the Financial Accountability Office.
- Industry groups say faster approvals and lower fees would help bring more supply online.
What the minister said
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack tabled a bill aimed at speeding up homebuilding, saying it takes too long and costs too much to build in Ontario. When asked if the measures would be enough to reach 1.5 million homes in 10 years, he did not recommit to the target, focusing instead on accelerating activity over the next 6 to 12 months.
What’s in the new bill
According to summaries of the legislation and minister’s remarks, the package would:
- Curb certain municipal green standards, including prohibiting Toronto from requiring green roofs, with the aim of reducing costs and delays.
- Speed up transit-oriented community approvals to build more housing near transit.
- Allow some minor variances as-of-right to cut routine bottlenecks.
- Facilitate faster Minister’s Zoning Orders to override typical planning timelines in select cases.
- Address rental system backlogs at the Landlord and Tenant Board and shorten notice periods for some non-payment evictions.
Why it matters
Ontario’s annual housing starts are running below the pace required to reach 1.5 million homes by 2031. The FAO reported just 12,700 starts in Q1 2025, the weakest first quarter since 2009, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
Industry reaction
The Building Industry and Land Development Association welcomed the direction of the bill, arguing that faster approvals and predictable standards are critical to producing more homes at scale and at lower cost for Ontario families.
The bottom line
Ontario is pushing new measures to accelerate building, but the government is now non-committal about the 1.5 million homes target. With starts still trailing, the next year will show whether streamlined approvals and reduced red tape can lift construction meaningfully.
Sources
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