Mayor addresses 2026 housing priorities at GOHBA’s annual breakfast

Ottawa, ON – Housing remains a top priority in the Capital Region for 2026, according to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who spoke at this morning’s annual housing breakfast hosted by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA). The event brought together industry leaders, community members, and stakeholders to discuss housing delivery, affordability, and the City’s goal of making Ottawa the most housing-friendly city in Canada.

Housing Outlook for 2026

In his remarks, Mayor Sutcliffe reaffirmed housing as a core priority for 2026 and spoke about the implementation of previously announced housing reforms. He referenced the Housing Innovation Task Force and the Housing Action Plan as key groundwork that is now moving forward, with a focus on reducing red tape, streamlining approvals, and making it easier to build homes. The mayor also highlighted efforts to reduce study requirements, ease upfront development costs, and advance zoning changes to support the type of housing needed across the city. He emphasized continued municipal investment in affordable housing and ongoing collaboration with federal partners to accelerate housing development in Ottawa.

Calls from GOHBA

GOHBA emphasizes the importance of maintaining momentum following recent progress on housing policy, including the outcomes of the Housing Innovation Task Force and updates to the City’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law. These efforts represent important steps toward faster approvals, fewer unnecessary barriers, and a wider range of housing options across the city.

Looking ahead, GOHBA continues to advocate for measures that will turn recent reforms into homes on the ground, including:

• More efficient and predictable development approvals
• Policies that help reduce costs impacting housing affordability
• Planning frameworks that support diverse housing forms in both established neighbourhoods and growth areas

“As we begin 2026, the focus must be on turning policy direction into housing on the ground,” said Jason Burggraaf, Executive Director of GOHBA. “The progress made over the past year shows what’s possible when industry and government work together, and our members are ready to build.”