Statement In Support of City of Ottawa Auditor General’s Recommendations – Development Application Review

Ottawa, ON — The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) expresses its appreciation and strong support for the recent findings and recommendations of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) in its Investigation of Development Application Review in the City of Ottawa, presented today before the City’s Audit Committee. We commend the Auditor General for identifying systemic gaps and deficiencies and proposing constructive reforms that will strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the City’s development approvals process.

GOHBA applauds the Auditor General’s key findings, including:

1. Process inefficiencies and inconsistencies that contribute to delays, uncertainty, and unpredictability for applicants.
2. Insufficient tracking and documentation of file progress, leading to a lack of clarity for both City staff and applicants.
3. Limited performance measurement, which reduces accountability and makes it difficult to evaluate whether the approvals system is meeting Council’s objectives or industry needs.

GOHBA supports all of the Auditor General’s recommendations, especially:

• The implementation of clearer timelines and service standards that provide predictability for applicants and help ensure projects can move forward in a timely manner.
• Improved documentation, file tracking, and transparency, so applicants, City staff, and Council can follow the status of development applications with confidence.
• The adoption of modern performance metrics and regular public reporting, allowing both builders and residents to see how well the City is meeting its targets.
• A stronger quality assurance and accountability framework, ensuring issues are identified early and resolved before they create costly delays.

Implementation of the recommendations of the Auditor General’s report will ensure:

• A predictable, transparent approvals process which ise critical to delivering the housing supply Ottawa urgently needs.
• A reduction of uncertainty and inefficiency lowering costs and risks, benefiting builders, buyers, and ultimately residents.
• A modernized approvals system to help Ottawa attract investment and keep housing starts aligned with the City’s population growth targets.

GOHBA encourages Council to:

• Act swiftly to implement the Auditor General’s recommendations.
• Provide the necessary resources to the General Manager, Planning Department and Legal Services to ensure Development Application Review is staffed, equipped, and managed for expeditious success.
• Commit to transparent, measurable reporting so progress can be tracked and communicated to residents and stakeholders.

GOHBA stands ready to work with the City to advance these reforms. We anticipate that the upcoming recommendations of the Mayor’s Housing Innovation Taskforce will speak to issues that were highlighted within the Auditor General’s findings. We look forward the Taskforce providing guidance and direction that will help build upon the recommendations that were made in the report . Our members sharea common goal with the City of a streamlined, accountable, and transparent approvals process that ensures Ottawa can meet its housing and infrastructure needs for years to come.