BUILDING DURHAM

In October, the Durham Region Home Builders' Association will be hosting their Annual General Meeting and electing their board of directors for the 2024-2026 term. 

The following positions are available for election:

·         Two (2) Builder/Renovator directors

·         One (1) Trade Contractor directors

·         Two (2) Supplier directors

Elected directors will serve a two-year term.

DRHBA's top priority is advocacy work for the building industry as a whole.  We also provide networking opportunities and great events for our members.  We are looking for individuals who are willing to share their time, knowledge and experience to further the interests of the building community.  We believe that each director brings a unique skill set and perspective to the table.

Directors will be required to attend four board meetings per year (November, February, May and September), and will be asked to join one of our committees.  We ask that you share your time and expertise, whether that means managing a GR file, speaking at a public meeting or helping to plan one of our gala events. 

As a director, you will be representing the Durham Region Home Builders' Association.  You will be expected to attend most of our events, including member events, seminars, the Awards of Excellence, President's Ball and golf tournament.

Being on the Durham Region Home Builders' Association's board of directors is a great way to help shape the industry, steer the direction of the Association, network, get more involved and stay informed on what's going on in the building world.

If you are interested in becoming a director, please download and fill out a nomination form and send it to Stacey at s.hawkins@drhba.com.  Nomination forms must be submitted by Thursday, August 22, 2024.  All forms will be forwarded to the nominations committee for review.  If there are more qualified applicants than positions available, an election will be held at the Annual General Meeting in October.  Qualified candidates are encouraged to provide a bio and photograph to be published in an upcoming news bulletin.

If you have any questions, please contact Stacey at 905-579-8080 ext. 2 or s.hawkins@drhba.com.

In late April, the City of Oshawa released their Development Charge Background study.  The new development charge bylaw proposes an increase of $2,191, from $35,591 to $37,782.

DRHBA, in partnership with BILD,  hired Keleher Planning and Economic Consulting (KPEC) to review the background study, and this correspondence was submitted on May 22, 2024.  In addition, DRHBA & BILD sent follow-up correspondence in regards to our concerns about the Northwood’s Project DC Recoverable Costs.  DRHBA has not yet received a response from the municipality to this correspondence.

DRHBA delegated at the public meeting on May 24, 2024, and provided Council with a handout that outlined the total costs of development charges to new homeowners in Oshawa, as well as the breakdown of costs of the Northwoods project.

The new development charge bylaw will be brought to Council on June 1, 2024, and if passed, will come into effect on July 1, 2024.

On May 27, 2024, Hon. Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery (“PBSD”), introduced legislation Homeowner Protection Act, 2024 (the “Act”).

May 28 – OHBA Member Update: Province Introduces Bill 200

There were several components of the Bill (Schedules) that would impact the development and residential construction industry at large, including the following:

1. Strengthening homeowner protection from exploitive business practices, including the misuse of Notice of Security Interest (NOSIs) registrations for consumer goods.
2. Believing that homeowners purchasing a home is one of their most important decisions, the government believes that new homebuyers should have adequate time to review their purchase and sale agreement so they can make a confident and informed decision when buying a new home.
3. Allow municipalities additional time to complete investigations for non-designated properties included in municipal registers of properties with cultural heritage value or interest.

Bill 200 has been granted Royal Assent. The motivation to do so was most likely driven by the government wanting to protect seniors and other vulnerable constituents to various bad actors; the desire of the opposition parties to be seen in a similar capacity, and the strong likelihood that the Legislature will prorogue over the summer and in such a circumstance, the Bill would die on the order paper.

To be clear, OHBA was given no prior knowledge of the government actions to pass this legislation without it going through the conventional standing committee procedure. With that background, we want to bring members up-to-date on what is now in effect with respect to this legislation and what matters will come into force upon proclamation.

WHAT IS NOT IN EFFECT (ROYAL ASSENT – JUNE 6, 2024):

1.      Schedule 1 – New Home Construction Licensing Act

This Schedule of the Bill would allow for a ten (10) day cooling-off period to apply to new home construction freehold real estate transaction.

However, this Schedule of the Bill is not in force until the day to be named by Proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. In discussions with officials in the minister’s office, OHBA are advised that the ministry will commence a consultation with stakeholders shortly and will also incorporate a transition period before this provision comes into effect. It was intimated that the timeline could be upwards of one year.

WHAT IS NOW IN EFFECT (ROYAL ASSENT – JUNE 6, 2024):

1.      Schedule 2 – Ontario Heritage Act

Among other matters, Section 27 (16) of the Act is amended to grant an additional two (2) year extension to municipalities’ complete assessments of properties in the register as of January 1, 2023. The Bill 23 provisions allowed for a period ending December 31, 2025. Therefore, the end date is now December 31, 2027. Please refer to Schedule 2 of the Bill.

1.      Schedule 4 –Personal Property Security Act amendments

This schedule amends the Act to have certain consumer goods not apply under the Act. The Bill also deems the expiry of NOSIs registered in respect of consumer goods that is in effect immediately before the day the Act receives Royal ascent and is deemed to have expired on that day. For greater certainty, the notice may not be extended, and the land described in the notice is not affected by any claim under the notice.

Furthermore, to protect individuals impacted by such NOSIs, the bill allows for the notice or the extension notice registered to be deleted from the title effective the day before the Act received Royal Assent.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Stacey or OHBA's CEO Scott Andison.

On June 6, 2024, Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, received 3rd reading and received Royal Assent. A copy of the final Bill can be accessed here.

On May 15, 2024, OHBA CEO Scott Andison and 2nd Vice President Christina Giannone deputed before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and spoke to the Association’s concerns related to the Bill.

May 15 – OHBA Standing Committee Remarks

On May 29th, amendments to the Bill were made by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Several of the amendments, most notably concerning the 3rd party appeals, were made by the government based on extensive advocacy with MMAH staff to ensure OHBA members’ interests were properly protected.

Please note the following updates:

APPEAL RIGHTS - THIRD PARTY APPEALS:

Most concerning in Bill 185 (as originally proposed) was the proposition to prohibit third-party appeals of official plan and zoning by-law amendments. Appeals were proposed to only be able to be filed by the applicant, minister, public bodies and specified persons. What the Bill did not properly distinguish was the difference between 1st party appeals (the municipality), 2nd party appeals (affected landowners/applicants), and 3rd party appeals (other parties who have an “interest” – e.g. OHBA or another special interest group).

Working with a group of member lawyers, through a concerted advocacy effort, OHBA and BILD had a series of meetings with both Ministry officials, and staff from the Minister ‘s office. OHBA discussed the consequences of eliminating third-party appeals and put forward suggested amendments for the province’s consideration. OHBA would like to thank many of our members that joined these advocacy efforts.

OHBA is pleased to report that amendments to the province’s initial proposal to eliminate third-party appeals were made at Committee and are included in the final legislation.

The final Bill continues to prohibit most third-party appeals but does now allow for second-party appeals. Owners will now be able to appeal Planning Act decisions that apply to their land (OPs, OPAs, zoning by-laws and zoning by-law amendments), such as in the instance where a municipality changes the official plan designation or zoning affecting their land. Existing second-party appeals will not be retroactively dismissed, as they will be for third parties unless an OLT hearing is already scheduled.

To emphasize, as originally proposed in Bill 185 and as passed with the final legislation, third-party appeals filed prior to the legislation coming into force and where the hearings have not started will be dismissed by the OLT.

ADVOCACY AND STATUS AS AN APPELLANT:

Neighbours and organizations, such as ratepayer groups and environmental groups, are considered third parties, and their appeals to the Planning Act instruments noted above are prohibited. Associations, such as OHBA or DRHBA, who may wish to appeal a municipal OP/OPA or zoning by-laws and zoning by-law amendments, are also considered a third party. This legislation now prohibits true 3rd party appeals.

What this means for HBAs:

1. HBAs can continue to seek party status for appeals to OPs, OPAs, zoning by-laws and zoning by-law amendments but cannot be the primary appellant.
2. HBAs may also participate in an OLT matter and seek party status.
3. HBAs can also continue to appeal other by-laws, such as those related to development charges, community benefits charges, and parkland.
4. Rather than being the appellant as was historically the practice of HBAs, the potential now exists to shift and mobilize member/landowner groups impacted by municipally initiated planning instruments to file appeals and provide guidance and organization in the process.

RELATED TO URBAN BOUNDARY EXPANSIONS:

As advocated by OHBA, Bill 185 has restored appeal rights for privately initiated settlement area boundary expansion refusals or non-decisions outside of the Greenbelt. Combined with proposed changes to the Provincial Planning Statement, private sector applications for settlement area boundary expansions will be able to be made at any time and appealed to the OLT.

It should be noted that the proposed Provincial Planning Statement will replace the in-force Provincial Policy Statement in the coming months. The government is currently consulting on the Provincial Planning Statement.

FEE REFUND PROVISIONS AND MUNICIPAL PRE-APPLICATION PROCESS (BILL 109):

Related to Bill 109, in Bill 185, the province proposed to eliminate the refund regime, allowing for pre-application consultations with municipalities to be voluntary and not mandatory and allowing for applicants to bring a motion to the OLT at any time during pre-consultation for a determination as to whether the requirements for a complete application are reasonable or have been met. All provisions were passed in the final version of Bill 185, as introduced. These are welcomed amendments, however, as the province considers an eventual next legislative package related to the Housing Supply Action Plan, OHBA will continue to advocate for a mechanism that, at minimum, ensures that legislative approval timelines are met.

What is also important to note is that these changes related to voluntary pre-application are forward looking and not retroactive for OPAs and by-laws that have been approved because of Bill 109. This means that all OPAs that impose pre-application requirements (such as preventing concurrent site plan applications, public meetings, peer reviews, etc.) will now come into force without any ability to challenge them.

DEVELOPMENT CHARGES:

Despite many of our member’s best efforts to explain to government the financial impact on the new consumer and the resulting financial uncertainty and project instability:

• Bill 185 has revoked the five-year phase-in period and has reintroduced the costs of development charge background studies as a capital cost to be included in the DC charge. This applies to development charge by-laws passed on and after January 1, 2022.
• The province has also amended the provisions for the DC freeze which reduces the timeframe from 2 years to 18 months to obtain a building permit and benefit from the frozen rates.

Municipalities have already started to update their development charge by-laws to reflect these new provisions, with provincial authority to do so. Bill 185 indicated that municipalities would not have to wait until the legislation was passed and could commence these updates upon introduction of the legislation, without the need for a background study.

OTHER MATTERS:

Bill 185 proposed to enhance the existing municipal authority to attach lapsing provisions to approved site plans and draft plans of subdivision through a "use-it-or-lose it" legislative framework. There were no changes to this aspect of the legislation through standing committee. OHBA will be actively engaged with MMAH going forward as regulations and parameters of this framework are developed.

Members with questions or concerns can contact Stacey or OHBA’s CEO Scott Andison.

At the June 11^th Durham Region Finance and Administration Committee meeting, finance staff walked-on Report 24-F-16 – Recommended Amendment to Regional Development Charges By-Law #42-2023 to Remove Phase-in Rates Effective July 1, 2024.

The report was passed by the committee and will be brought to Regional Council on June 26, 2024.  The report recommends that Council amend the previously passed Report 2024-F-10 (passed on May 29, 2024 – to remove the phase-in of DCs upon the passage of Bill 185) to remove the phase-in as of July 1, 2024 to coincide with indexing.

If passed by Regional Council, the following DC rates would come into effect on July 1, 2024:

• Single/Semi-Detached - $86,095
• Medium Density Multiples - $68,620
• Two Bedroom Apartment and Larger - $50,107
• One Bedroom Apartment and Smaller - $30,765

Full rates can be found in this report.

The report also recommends that:

Any complete submission for the preparation of a subdivision agreement received by the Development Approvals Division of the Regional Works Department on or prior to July 1, 2024 be given the option of being processed under the policies and rates of the current DC By-Law #42-2023 (i.e. without the changes recommended in the amending by-law) or the proposed amended DC By-law, where a complete submission requires all of the following to have been submitted to the Development Approvals Division in a form satisfactory to the Region:

• Ministry of the Environment, Conversation and Parks is received;
• Detailed cost estimate received;
• Three (3) copies of the proposed Final Plan (M-Plan) received;
• Regional Planning approval of the Final Plan received;
• Three (3) copies of all proposed Reference Plans (R-Plans) received;
• Three (3) copies of approved General Plan of Services received (signed by the Local Municipality and the Region); and
• Regional Subdivision Agreement Information Checklist

Subdivision agreements that have been processed according to By-Law #42-2023 (i.e. without the changes recommended in the amending by-law) must be executed within three months of July 1^st, 2024 (September 30^th, 2024), otherwise they shall be deemed cancelled and will be replaced with a subdivision agreement processed according to the amended DC By-law, where execution requires all of the following to have been submitted to the Regional Legal Services in a form satisfactory to the Region:

• Signed Subdivision Agreement received, including all schedules;
• Payments of fees identified in the agreement received;
• Securities identified in the agreement received;
• Prepayment of DCs for Sanitary Sewerage, Water Supply and Regional Roads received; and
• Insurance Certificate received.

The Durham Region Home Builders’ Association and BILD appealed the Region’s new development charge bylaw last year, and that appeal is ongoing.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has released a digital version of the two-volume English 2024 Ontario Building Code (OBC) Compendium. Use this link to request a free copy online today. A hard copy of the 2024 Building Code Compendium is still in development and will be made available through Publications Ontario. You can sign up to be notified when the binders are in stock here. Note that Building Code exams will continue to use the 2012 Building Code provisions until a later date, to be confirmed by MMAH. 

OHBA is committed to supporting our members through this transition. We are continuing to work closely with MMAH and other key partners to coordinate follow-up training around the 2024 OBC. We look forward to announcing more information about updates and training in the coming months!

As a reminder, to ease the implementation of the new Building Code, MMAH has provided a transition period for code users. The 2024 OBC has an in-effect date of January 1, 2025, with a further three-month transition period until March 31, 2025, for building permit applications for which the working drawings were substantially complete before January 1, 2025. 

If you have any immediate questions or concerns about this, please contact OHBA's Miyoko Oikawa.

Muriel Jeffery, who founded Jeffery Homes with her late husband, John Wayne Jeffery, passed away on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024 at the age of 81.

Muriel and Wayne Jeffery started Jeffery Home almost 50 years ago and she continued to develop communities within Durham Region along with her family.  

Service details can be found here and the full obituary can be found here.

TORONTO, APRIL 15, 2024 – The Ontario Home Builders' Association (OHBA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Scott Andison as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 15, 2024. Andison, a seasoned leader with a formidable background in the public and private sectors as well as not-for-profit organizations, will lead the OHBA through a renewed period of strategic growth and advocacy.

Andison's career is marked by notable leadership roles that span the private sector and extensive service within the Ontario government, demonstrating a versatile skill set that bridges both realms effectively. His leadership in executive roles in the private sector showcases his acumen in business development, operational excellence, and navigating regulatory landscapes.

Within the Ontario government, Andison served in critical roles in the ministries of Finance and Education and, more recently, as the Executive Director of Health System Strategy at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, where he was instrumental in the development and delivery of strategic initiatives aimed at improving health service delivery and outcomes. His expertise in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and program implementation within complex government structures highlights his capability to navigate and influence public sector environments effectively.

Beyond his direct government service, Andison's tenure as President & CEO of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) further exemplifies his leadership prowess, particularly in advocacy and association management within the housing sector. In this capacity, Andison adeptly balanced member interests with governmental policies, spearheading initiatives that promoted sustainable growth and regulatory improvements on behalf of members.

"We are exceptionally pleased to welcome Scott Andison as OHBA’s Chief Executive Officer. His extensive experience in both the private sector and within the Ontario government equips him with a unique perspective and set of skills that are ideal for leading our association," said the OHBA Board President Dave Depencier. "Scott’s proven leadership, combined with his strategic vision and deep understanding of both the governmental and private sectors, will propel OHBA and the interests of our members forward."

Andison expressed his commitment to leveraging his diverse experience for the benefit of OHBA, stating, "I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at the OHBA. My experiences across the private sector and within the Ontario government have prepared me to lead this association effectively. I am very excited for the opportunity to direct my experience and passion to support Ontario’s developers, builders and renovators to build the housing choices that Ontarians need and can afford."

In this new chapter, the OHBA is set to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the residential new home construction industry with renewed vigor, ensuring that the association remains a pivotal force in shaping policy, fostering industry growth, and supporting its members.

To facilitate the transition, Neil Rodgers will pivot into a Strategic Advisor capacity over the next several months, working daily with Scott.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Neil for his commitment and dedication to OHBA over the last several months in serving as our Interim CEO. He fulfilled a critical role in stabilizing the operation, building relationships within the association community, and advancing our government relations strategy to ensure housing supply remains the top priority for all levels of government,” said President Dave Depencier.

The federal government has unveiled Canada’s Housing Plan, which responds to the significant housing challenges faced by Canadian communities. With Canada’s Housing Plan, the federal government is taking a leadership role and making investments that drive the change needed to help solve Canada's national housing crisis.

In the years since the pandemic, Canada’s housing sector has faced increasingly difficult challenges, compounded by high interest rates that slowed the economy and home construction. Today, the national housing crisis presents one of Canada’s greatest social and economic challenges. Canada needs to build more homes, faster, to meet the demand of our growing communities.

The Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Fraser announced Canada’s vision and plan to solve Canada's national housing crisis. Through Canada’s Housing Plan, the government is committing to building more homes, faster; increasing housing affordability; growing the community housing sector; and, making it easier to rent or buy a home.

Canada is rising to this challenge by:

• Building more homes by bringing down the costs of homebuilding, helping cities make it easier to build homes at a faster pace, changing the way Canadian homebuilders manufacture homes, and growing the workforce to ensure we get the job done.
• Making it easier to rent or own a home by ensuring that every renter or homeowner has a home that suits their needs, and the stability to retain it.
• Helping Canadians who can’t afford a home by building more affordable housing for students, seniors, persons with disabilities, and equity-deserving communities, and eliminating chronic homelessness in Canada.

Building more homes

Making the math work for homebuilders

• Eliminating GST from new rental apartment construction projects, co-ops, and new student residences built by non-profit universities, and public colleges and school authorities.
• Reforming the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP), and providing a further $15 billion in loans to build a minimum of 30,000 new rental apartments. This brings the program’s total loan funding to over $55 billion with more than 131,000 new rental homes by 2031-32, including $500 million in low-cost financing to support rental housing projects using innovative techniques. This is in addition to the $15 billion announced in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement.
• Launching Canada Builds to leverage funding from the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) to partner with provinces and territories that launch their own ambitious housing plans, increasing the impact of federal, provincial and territorial investments.
• Launching a Public Lands for Homes plan that will unlock underused public land to build more housing, accelerate the process of making public land available for housing, lease public land instead of selling it off, and create a new mapping tool to keep track of federal lands that can be used for housing.
• Announcing $20 million, through Budget 2024, for Statistics Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for modernizing and enhancing the collection and dissemination of housing data, including municipal-level data on housing starts and completions.
• Introducing the Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, delivered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to provide homeowners up to $40,000 in low-interest loans to add a secondary suite to their existing homes.
• Launching a $4.3 billion Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy in 2024 to establish a ‘for Indigenous, by Indigenous’ National Housing Centre, and provide additional distinctions-based investments for culturally appropriate Indigenous housing to be delivered by Indigenous governments, organizations, and housing and service providers.

Working with communities to build more housing, faster

• Providing an additional $400 million dollars to the $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to incentivize an additional 12,000 new homes in the next three years so more municipalities can cut red tape, fast-track home construction, and invest in affordable housing.
• Attaching housing conditions on public transit funding by requiring that any community that wants transit funding will be required to take action that will directly unlock housing supply where it’s needed most, including:

1. Eliminating mandatory minimum parking requirements within 800 metres of a high-frequency transit line;
2. Allowing high-density housing within 800 metres of a high-frequency transit line;
3. Allowing high-density housing within 800 metres of post-secondary institutions; and,
4. Completing Housing Needs Assessments for communities with a population over 30,000.

• Launching a new $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the construction and upgrading of critical housing infrastructure. This includes water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure to support the construction of more homes. This fund will include:

1. $1 billion available to municipalities to support urgent infrastructure needs to enable more housing; and
2. $5 billion for agreements with provinces and territories to support long-term priorities. Provinces and territories can access this funding if they commit to key actions that increase housing supply, including:

• Legalizing more housing options by adopting zoning that allows four units as-of-right and that permits more “missing middle” homes, including duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and small multi-unit apartments;
• Implementing a three-year freeze on increasing development charges from April 2, 2024 levels for municipalities with a population greater than 300,000;
• Adopting forthcoming changes to the National Building Code to support more accessible, affordable, and climate-friendly housing options;
• Providing pre-approval for construction of designs included in the government’s upcoming Housing Design Catalogue; and,
• Implementing measures from the forthcoming Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights and Renters’ Bill of Rights.

1. Provinces will have until January 1, 2025 to secure an agreement, and territories will have until April 1, 2025. If a province or territory does not secure an agreement by their respective deadline, their funding allocation will be transferred to the municipal stream.

Changing the way we build homes

• Allocating $11.6 million to the development of a Housing Design Catalogue, which will provide builders and municipalities with a set of standardized designs that will streamline planning, development, and approval processes of new home build.
• Launching the new Homebuilding Technology and Innovation Fund. This Fund will provide $50 million delivered through Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) to help scale-up, commercialize, and promote adoption of innovative housing technologies and materials in Canada’s homebuilding industry, including for modular and prefabricated homes.
• Investing $50 million over two years for Canada’s regional development agencies to support innovative housing projects, including those in modular housing, automation, and robotics.
• Simplifying the way that Canada builds homes by making specific changes to the National Building Code to support factory build-housing and changes to allow more multi-bedroom apartments in existing neighbourhoods.
• Providing $500 million in low-cost financing for new apartments that use innovative prefabricated homebuilding techniques through the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP).

Growing and training the workforce

• Providing an additional $50 million in the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, building on the federal government’s previous $115 million investment, with a focus on residential construction to help skilled trades workers get more homes built.
• Providing $10 million for the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program to encourage high school students to enter the skilled trades, with an additional $90 million for the Apprenticeship Service, creating apprenticeship opportunities to train and recruit the next generation of skilled trades workers.

Making it easier to rent or own a home

Protecting renters

• Launching the new $15 million Tenant Protection Fund, through Budget 2024, to provide funding to provincial legal services and tenants’ rights advocacy organizations to better protect tenant rights and ensure that renting a home is fair, open, and transparent.
• Creating the Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights, in partnership with provinces and territories, to require landlords to disclose a clear history of apartment pricing, significantly reduce renovictions, and create a nationwide standard lease agreement to give renters more agency.
• Strengthening the Canadian Mortgage Charter, and working with fintech companies, credit bureaus, and lenders to prioritize tools so that renters can report and record their rent payment history, strengthening their credit scores, ensuring they get credit for on-time rent payments, and unlocking pathways to become homeowners.

Getting you into your first home

• Extending the limit on insured mortgage amortizations for first-time buyers acquiring new builds by five years to increase access to mortgages for younger Canadians.
• Strengthening the Canadian Mortgage Charter to support access to fair, reasonable, and timely mortgage relief measures from their federally regulated financial institutions.
• Leveraging the tax-free First Home Savings Account to help Canadians meet their saving goals and purchase of their first home, faster. The tax-free First Home Savings Account is already helping over 750,000 Canadians save faster for their first down payment.

Supporting current homeowners

• Extending the grace period for when homeowners are not required to repay their Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawals to their RRSP, from two to five years, for all those who withdraw between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2025.
• Launching the Canada Green Buildings Strategy to focus on lowering home energy bills and reducing building emissions by supporting energy efficient retrofits. $903.5 million will go toward the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program, renewing and improving existing energy efficiency programs, and continuing to develop national approaches to home energy labelling.

Protecting Canada’s existing housing stock

• Creating a short-term rental enforcement fund which will provide $50 million for municipal enforcement of restrictions on short-term rentals, and increase long-term rental units.
• Extending the ban on purchasing residential property by foreign investors, legislated through the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, until January 1, 2027.

Helping Canadians who can’t afford a home

Increasing the supply of affordable housing in Canada

• Providing $1 billion to the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) in addition to the $1 billion top-up announced in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, bringing the total funding to over $14 billion, to reform and strengthen the program.
• Launching a $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund to help community housing providers acquire affordable rental units at risk of being sold to investors and repriced in order to preserve their affordability over the long term.
• Launching the $1.5 billion Co-operative Housing Development Program to support new co-operative housing developments across the country.

Providing funding to communities to help end homelessness

• Providing additional investments of $1 billion over four years to stabilize Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy.
• Investing $250 million to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness in communities across Canada, supporting the most vulnerable and ending encampments as vulnerable Canadians transition into dignified housing solutions.

At the April 8th Clarington General Government committee meeting, staff walked on Report CAO-002-24 - The Perfect Storm - Impact of Provincial Changes on our Community.

DRHBA is specifically concerned about Recommendation #3 in the report, which states:

"That Fiscal Impact Assessments be undertaken for all Secondary Plans (inclusive of those completed) to understand the full impact of the legislative changes on each, in particular parkland and DC revenues, and report back to Council prior to any further approvals (inclusive of development application approvals)."

DRHBA's Government Relations (GR) Committee is actively working on this issue.  Any landowners in Clarington are encouraged to reach out to Stacey to ensure they receive all future updates.