OTTAWA - April 10, 2024 — The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) supports the Ontario government’s latest steps towards accelerating housing development with the introduction of the “Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act.” Within the legislation are a wide range of measures that reinforce the province’s commitment to reducing barriers, expediting approvals and meeting the collective target of constructing at least 1.5 million homes by 2031.

 

“As we review the details of these changes, it is clear the government is committed to continuous improvement within the housing sector, including the speed of housing development application processes,” said Jason Burggraaf, GOHBA’s Executive Director. “Currently, we see scenarios where the application takes longer than actually building the project. That’s a dynamic we need to change if we want to provide enough homes at a pace that meets our rapidly growing population.”

 

Following today’s announcement, GOHBA welcomes the removal of red tape and the modification of pre-application requirements.

 

GOHBA commends the province’s move to allow developers to tailor parking provisions in new residential developments near transit hubs. This aligns with calls made in GOHBA’s recent white paper on zoning in Ottawa, emphasizing the shared goal of advancing efficient and sustainable housing development.

 

Further, GOHBA strongly encourages the government to move forward with pay-on-demand bonds to free up capital that could be used to build more housing, as opposed to being tied up in a letter of credit.

 

While GOHBA appreciates the government’s concern with new “use it or lose it” regulations, as per our release in February, specific to the Nation’s Capital, the numbers suggest that a significant proportion of designated land for housing is moving through the planning process at a reasonable pace.

 

This announcement also follows the government’s recent investment in housing-enabling infrastructure for Ottawa, underscoring the province’s commitment to supporting the City’s long-term development.

 

Moving forward, GOHBA will review just-released proposed revisions to the Provincial Planning Statement and an updated building code, with a focus on increasing housing supply.

 

As the voice for Ottawa’s home builders, GOHBA remains committed to collaborating with all levels of government and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of measures needed to increase housing affordability and supply.

 

Media Contact: 

 

For media inquiries please contact:

 

Jason Burggraaf
Executive Director
Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association
jason@gohba.ca

 

 

 

ABOUT THE GREATER OTTAWA HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION:

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association has been the proud voice for excellence in the home-building community since 1951 and represents over 415 companies in new home construction and professional renovation. Our industry accounts for 37,000 jobs across Ottawa, with $2.5 billion in wages and $5.0 billion in economic investment. Contact Jason Burggraaf, Executive Director, at jason@gohba.ca.