BUILDING DURHAM

In this Memo: Status of the FTHB GST/HST Rebate CHBA Action What Members Can Do Resource for members to encourage eligible FTHBs to buy now rather than wait

Earlier this week, after extensive follow-up with the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), CRA released more details about the implementation of the federal government's proposed GST/HST rebate for first-time home buyers (“FTHB GST/HST Rebate”), which will remove the GST (or the federal part of the HST) on new homes at or under $1 million and lower it on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million for all first-time home buyers.

Status of the FTHB GST/HST Rebate On June 5, proposed legislation was introduced in the House of Commons to amend the Excise Tax Act to include the FTHB GST Rebate, with the intention to complete the legislative process by July 1. The last step of that process is for the legislation to receive Royal Assent, which was not completed in time for the government’s summer recess at the end of June.    This means that, although the legislation has been promised to come, home buyers and builders cannot apply yet for the rebate and the CRA will not process claims for the new FTHB GST Rebate until the proposed legislation has received Royal Assent. As such, builders cannot currently provide buyers with a credit beyond what the buyer would already be entitled to under the existing GST/HST New Housing Rebate. CHBA is advocating for rapid action on securing Royal Assent as quickly as possible once the House of Commons resumes as of September 15th, after the summer recess, but no firm timeline is possible at this time.    Buyers are still eligible for the new FTHB GST Rebate for any home purchased after May 27, 2025, but if ownership is transferred to an individual before the proposed legislation receives Royal Assent, the individual would need to apply separately to the CRA for the FTHB GST/HST rebate if Royal Assent is received. If the proposed legislation receives Royal Assent and ownership is subsequently transferred to an individual, builders would be able to credit the FTHB GST/HST rebate to the purchaser in the same manner as the existing GST/HST new housing rebate. This means builders would credit the rebate amount to the purchaser, against the total amount payable for the house. The purchaser would not have to apply to the CRA directly or wait to receive their rebate.    There is no indication that this legislation won’t be passed; rather the speed at which it will be passed is still a major concern and point of emphasis to government by CHBA.

CHBA action The slow implementation of this measure has hindered would-be sales and thus the creation of much-needed housing supply during a time of great market uncertainty. CHBA has been very actively conveying this problem to the Prime Minister, Ministers and government officials. After years of advocating for changes to the GST, we share members’ extreme frustrations about the delay in moving this measure forward. CHBA continues to emphasize to the federal government the problems the slow implementation of this measure has caused, stressing that, without action, buyers will continue to wait on the sidelines. And, of course, CHBA continues to advocate for expansion of the eligibility.    Earlier this week, CHBA met with the Minister for Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Gregor Robertson, to outline members' top priorities and concerns, including the importance of quick implementation of the FTHB GST Rebate and related resources.    In addition to many other touchpoints, CHBA has engaged with the offices of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, stressing that it is imperative that this legislation move forward as soon as the House resumes on September 15. For the tenor of those discussions, members can see the formal letter, which is available to view on CHBA’s website.    In these discussions, CHBA also continues to advocate for a broadening of the GST relief to be adjusted to be:  for all homebuyers, not just first-time buyers;  in more expensive markets, increased thresholds to $1.5 and $2.0M; and  applicable to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and secondary suites, which are important forms of new housing.  Rest assured, CHBA will keep members updated on any new developments. CRA’s information on the rebate, including FTHB qualification requirements, can be found here.

What members can do In order to get would-be buyers off the sidelines, it is imperative that this legislation receives Royal Assent as soon as the House returns in September. To help ensure the FTHB GST Rebate is at the top of the federal agenda on September 15, CHBA encourages members email their federal MPs directly, with examples of how this delay is impacting your business, to emphasize how critical it is that this measure be implemented as soon as possible. This, in tandem with CHBA’s ongoing advocacy efforts, will help strengthen our collective voice on this issue.    CHBA members are also encouraged to fill out a 2-minute member survey, which will give CHBA concrete data about the impact of the slow implementation of the FTHB GST Rebate to reinforce our advocacy efforts.

Looking for an easy way to inform your clients about the variety of tax credits, rebates, and loans from the federal government that make renovation projects more affordable for homeowners? If your clients are upgrading for energy efficiency, accessibility, or adding a secondary suite, there are a variety of incentives and financing programs available that could be help turn their renovation dreams into reality. Check out the new Renovation Incentives and Resources page and accompanying blog post on the CHBA website. Both have new, easy-to-understand fact sheets for your clients. You are encouraged to make these resources your own – download & add to your website (or link to ours to ensure they’re always up-to-date), print for clients, and link to the blog on social media.  

Durham Region Council passed two bylaws on June 25, 2025 amending the Region’s development charge bylaw and transit development charge bylaw to delay indexing until November 1, 2025.

The Region has historically indexed their development charges on July 1. The change is being made to be in accordance with the Statistics Canada Quarterly, Construction Price Statistics, catalogue number 62-207, for the most recently available annual period ending March 31.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Catholic District School Board (PVNCDSB) have begun the process of creating their new Education Development Charge (EDC) bylaw.

The current bylaw expires on December 31, 2025, and the school boards have retained Watson & Associates Economists Inc. to prepare the background study. An early stakeholder session was held on July 29, where Watson provided this presentation.

The background study has not yet been completed, and therefore the proposed increase amount is not currently available.

It should be noted that provincial legislation requires that any increase must be phased-in at a maximum of $300 per year.

The current EDC for KPRDSB is $2,143 and for PVNCCDSB is $1,202. These DCs are not differentiated by housing type.

Both school boards are creating an area-specific EDC and these rates will only apply to Clarington.

The background study will be released in the fall, and there will be additional stakeholder sessions prior to the bylaw passage in early December.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email Stacey.

Where Industry Leaders Connect, Share & Build Together

We’re Laying the Foundation for Something Big…

The Durham Region Home Builders’ Association is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the Construction Club  — a new platform built for builders, renovators, suppliers, and other construction professionals to connect, collaborate, and grow together.

Whether you’re on the job site, in the office, or managing a supply chain, this club is designed with you in mind.

 Why Join the Construction Club?

✅ Build Valuable Relationships:
Network with like-minded professionals — builders, tradespeople, renovators, and suppliers — all passionate about elevating industry standards in Durham Region.

✅ Problem Solving:
Gain insights from peers tackling similar challenges in construction, project management, site safety, timelines, and more.

✅ Stay Ahead of the Curve:
Hear about local issues, regulation updates, building code changes, and product innovations directly from industry leaders and partners.

✅ Share & Be Heard:
Bring your voice to the table. Share your real-world experiences and help shape discussions that impact the entire building community.

Coming This Fall — Be Part of the First Meeting!

Date: Thursday September 18^th, 2025, at 4:30pm.

Location: The Joint BBQ! 615 Winchester Rd E Whitby

your perspective matters, we want to hear from you!

email ashley@drhba.com if you have any questions or would like to join.
Let’s build something great — together.

The Durham Region Home Builders’ Association is currently seeking nominations for its board of directors for the 2025-2027 term.

This fall, the Durham Region Home Builders' Association will be hosting their Annual General Meeting and electing their board of directors for the 2025-2027 term.

The following positions are available for election:

· Five (5) Builder/Renovator directors

· Two (2) Trade Contractor directors

· Two (2) Professional 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), as well as any special board meetings, and will be required 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 forward your nomination form to Stacey at s.hawkins@drhba.com by Friday, August 29, 2025. No nominations will be accepted after this date. 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 November. 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. 3 or s.hawkins@drhba.com.

Download nomination form.

The Township of Uxbridge is pleased to announce the successful completion of a key land assembly initiative, paving the way for the transformation of its downtown core. With this milestone reached, the Township is preparing to issue a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI), a critical step in identifying a qualified purchaser and developer for the site.

Prior to releasing a RFEI, the Township is undertaking a Market Sounding Opportunity to gain insights and feedback from the development community.

The Township of Uxbridge welcomes your feedback and is hosting a Market Sounding Opportunity from July 7 - 11, 2025.  For more information, contact Debbie Leroux at 905-852-9181 ext. 228 or downtown@uxbridge.ca.

More information can also be found in the Briefing Package.

OHBA is seeking comments from members in relation to Bill 17 - Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025.

All comments are to be sent to kjensen@ohba.ca no later than May 31, 2025.

The following postings are related to similar proposed amendments to the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020 or the Metrolinx Act to support Bill 17.

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION – PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE BUILDING TRANSIT FASTER ACT, 2020

Proposal number:  ERO 025-0450, Comments open until June 11^th.

Link to commenting post:  Bill 17: Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 – Amendment to the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020 | Environmental Registry of Ontario

With the aim of helping to create transit projects faster, Bill 17 proposes amendments to the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020.

The BTFA provides the tools needed for Metrolinx to deliver the current "priority transit projects" under the Act (Ontario Line, Yonge North Subway Extension, Scarborough Subway Extension, Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, Hamilton Light Rail Transit, and the Hazel McCallion Light Rail Transit line extensions) by providing:

• Utility Company Coordination - A framework for enhanced coordination of utility relocations to support better management of project schedule and costs;
• Municipal Service and Right-of-Way Access - An approach to municipal permits and backstop authority to compel access to municipal rights-of-way and services (water, sewer);
• Corridor Development Permits - Requirements for owners of adjacent land and infrastructure to obtain a corridor development permit for construction and development activities that may interfere with transit construction;
• Entering Lands - The ability to enter lands for due diligence work (e.g., soil testing), removal of obstructions and encroachments (e.g., trees), addressing imminent danger, and for the purpose of ensuring that a permit or stop-work order is being complied with; and,
• Land Assembly - A streamlined land assembly process.

The proposed amendment adds a new definition of “provincial transit project” to the BTFA, meaning a “transit project that Metrolinx has authority to carry out.” The definition will continue to encompass projects that were previously defined as priority transit projects. This amendment, if passed, will expand the application of the BTFA to all provincial transit projects without having to name them in the Act or prescribe them via regulatory amendments. Upon Royal Assent, Metrolinx would have immediate access to two of the BTFA measures: Utility Company Coordination and Municipal Service and Right-of-Way Access for all provincial transit projects. The remaining three measures, Corridor Development Permits, Entering Lands, and Land Assembly, will be available to Metrolinx upon designation of transit corridor lands via Order in Council (OIC).  

If the amendment is passed, Ontarians are expected to see more public transit projects built faster. Expanding the number of transit projects under the BTFA will help the government’s plan to build transit faster so people can get where they want to go, when they want to get there, while reducing congestion and driving economic growth. Please see the full ERO posting for additional information.

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION – PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE BUILDING TRANSIT FASTER ACT, 2020 TO EXPAND DEFINITION OF PRIORITY TRANSIT PROJECTS TO ALL PROVINCIAL TRANSIT PROJECTS

Proposal number: 25-MT005, Comments open until June 11^th.

Link to commenting post:  Ontario Regulatory Registry

As directly related to the above post:  MTO is proposing a legislative amendment to add a new definition "provincial transit project" to the BTFA, defined as a "transit project that Metrolinx has authority to carry out." The definition will include projects that were previously defined as "priority transit projects" under the Act. The current 'priority transit projects' under the Act are the Ontario Line, Scarborough Subway Extension, Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, Yonge North Subway Extension, Hamilton Light Rail Transit and Hazel McCallion Light Rail Transit line extensions.

The legislative amendment will expand the applicability of the BTFA to all provincial transit projects to streamline project delivery and accelerate completion of all provincial transit projects under Metrolinx's delivery authority. The measures introduced by the BTFA provide:
• The ability to enter lands for due diligence work (e.g., soil testing), removal of obstructions and encroachments (e.g., trees), addressing imminent danger, and ensuring that a permit or stop-work order is being complied with;
• A framework for enhanced coordination of utility relocations to support better management of project schedules and costs;
• A streamlined land assembly process;
• An approach to municipal permits, and backstop authority to compel access to municipal rights-of-way and services (water, sewer); and
• Requirements for owners of adjacent land and infrastructure to obtain a corridor development permit for construction and development activities that may interfere with transit construction.

In March 2021, a Minister's regulation (O.Reg. 181/21) came into force, delegating certain provisions of the BTFA to Metrolinx. Certain BTFA measures, such as utility coordination and municipal right-of-way access would be immediately available to be used for provincial transit projects upon Royal Assent of the proposed BTFA amendments. The other three measures - corridor development permits, entering lands, and land assembly - would become available to Metrolinx upon designation of transit corridor lands.  Expanding the definition of transit projects under the BTFA will help the government's plan to build transit faster so Ontarians can get to where they want to go, when they want to get there, while reducing congestion and driving economic growth.

[10]   PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE METROLINX ACT, 2026

Proposal number: 25-MT006, Comments open until June 11^th.

Link to commenting post: Ontario Regulatory Registry

The Metrolinx Act, 2006 establishes Metrolinx as a Crown agency of the Ontario government with a mandate to, among other things, coordinate and integrate transportation systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) to improve transit services, manage regional transit systems, and to ensure integration with local municipal transit.  The proposed amendment permits the Minister of Transportation to request certain information and data from municipalities or municipal agencies necessary to support the development of provincial transit projects or Transit-Oriented Communities projects.

Metrolinx plans and builds major provincial transit projects. The delivery of major transit projects requires negotiation and agreement with municipal governments, relying on the exchange of information and data to ensure transit project planning and delivery is successful. Where information is not shared sufficiently or in a timely manner, this may result in significant project delays, reductions in efficiencies, as well as legal and reputational risks. If approved, the proposed amendment would contribute to accelerating timelines associated information and data exchange for transit project delivery.

OHBA is seeking comments from members in relation to Bill 17 - Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025.

All comments are to be sent to kjensen@ohba.ca no later than May 31, 2025.

Proposal number:  25-MOI003, Comments open until June 12^th.

Link to commenting post: Bill 17- Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 - Accelerating Delivery of Transit-Oriented Communities | Environmental Registry of Ontario

Changing the definition of Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC):  The Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020, currently defines a TOC project as part of a priority transit project; and located on transit corridor land. This definition excludes transit projects along the GO and LRT networks, reducing opportunities to develop mixed-used communities along these networks.  To address this, the province is also proposing to expand the scope of a priority transit project under the Act to include provincial transit projects such as TOCs, mirroring the proposed amendments to the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020, led by the Ministry of Transportation.

Exempting approvals for municipal agreements and ancillary TOC project agreements: Order In Council approval is required to enter into agreements, which can slow down execution. The proposal would seek to exempt certain agreements from requiring an Order in Council approval when other approvals are in place.

Environmental Implications: By implementing the proposed changes, MOI will be accelerating the creation of more TOCs, which in turn would help create high-density, vibrant, mixed-use communities with more housing and jobs near transit stations. The related development and construction of these communities may have a negative impact to the environment, while encouraging people to use public transit in close proximity, which will reduce car dependency, traffic congestion and emissions.

OHBA is seeking comments from members in relation to Bill 17 - Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025.

All comments are to be sent to kjensen@ohba.ca no later than May 31, 2025.

Proposal number:  25-MOI003, Comments open until June 11^th.

Link to commenting post: Ontario Regulatory Registry

The Ministry of Infrastructure Act, 2011 is proposed to be amended to provide the Minister of Infrastructure with the authority to direct a municipality and/or a municipal agency to provide information or data that may be required to support the development or implementation of a project funded by the provincial government.  The Ministry of Infrastructure Act was introduced to provide the scope of work that would fall within the purview and authorities of the Ministry to accelerate and deliver on government infrastructure projects. There are currently challenges in meeting project timelines, land access issues and lengthy approval and notification periods that have stalled provincially funded infrastructure projects. There have been examples of infrastructure project delivery challenges where lack of access to timely information have resulted in costly delays in meeting project delivery timelines. This amendment would provide the Minister of Infrastructure with the authority to request information and data from a municipality or municipal agency needed to support provincially funded infrastructure projects.

This power is intended to only be used where municipal information or data is necessary for the timely delivery of provincially funded projects, and where a municipality has been unwilling to provide this information through voluntary means or good faith negotiations. The proposed amendment would help the province ensure that it has the information necessary to determine which municipal lands are needed for a project and what other constraints may exist to accelerate property negotiations and meet project timelines. It aims to facilitate faster, more efficient infrastructure development, which can enhance connectivity, reduce congestion, support economic growth, and improve quality of life.  The proposed amendment is enabling legislation; the new provisions are only intended to be used where the province is not able to acquire the requested information from a municipality through good faith negotiations. As such costs and benefits could only be calculated on a case-by-case basis. Any direct costs would be minimal and related only to assembling and transmitting required documents to the Minister or the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation.