BUILDING DURHAM

IMPORTANT NOTICE

REMINDER – Enbridge Gas requires a notice period of no greater than 30 days’ notice of Closing Dates.

This communication serves as a reminder to Builders that Enbridge Gas must receive notice of closing dates for necessary billing transfers, and notice to set up new homeowner accounts no greater than 30 days prior to the closing dates. In addition, please ensure that any changes to closing dates are provided ahead of the date requested.

This is a requirement before occupancy occurs. Failure to provide this information may result in:

the Builder paying for natural gas service for an extended period post-closing and/or delays and interruptions to natural gas supply for the new homeowner.

CALL TO ACTION

It is the Builder’s responsibility to:

➢Advise all new homeowners to contact Enbridge Gas to set up their new account by calling 1-877-362-7434 or online at New Homeowner Gas Account Set Up prior to their closing date.

➢Submit the address and homeowner’s information to Enbridge Gas by email and/or a template at the start of each month, provided that the Builder has a release included in the Purchase and Sale Agreement that permits them to disclose this information to Enbridge Gas.

The Builder must send an email to Enbridge Gas Specialty Billing at specialtybilling@enbridge.comthat includes all relevant details for the home(s), including:

• name of Builder development
• complete address including block/unit, city, and postal code
• the buyer’s full name
• phone number and email address
• the co-buyer’s full name, phone number and email address; and the legal closing date.

The sender will receive a confirmation response for each request, indicating that the request has been completed.

For any questions or issues, please contact the Enbridge Gas Specialty Billing team at specialtybilling@enbridge.com

Designed for renovators, builders, architects, designers, students, and industry leaders, this full-day event offers insight, innovation, and meaningful connections to help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving sector.

Discover how technology, strategy, and collaboration are driving real change in Ontario’s residential construction sector.

Whether you’re an established professional or just starting out, this event is your chance to gain insight, make connections, and help shape the direction of renovation and home building in Ontario.

Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: The Centre for Housing Innovation – 10 Dundas St. East, Toronto
Price: $99 + HST

Click here to Register

To: All OHBA Members

From: Scott Andison, Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 19, 2025 Re: 2025 Annual Meeting of Members – Information Package

Dear Members,

I am pleased to share the enclosed Annual Meeting of Members (AMM) Package for the Ontario Home Builders’ Association’s 2025 AMM, which will take place on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 11:15 AM at Blue Mountain Resort, Collingwood.

As part of our preparation for this meeting:

• On September 11, 2025, OHBA circulated a call for member resolutions with a requested deadline of September 16, 2025.

• four resolutions were received by that deadline. click here for more information.

This package includes: • Notice of the Annual Meeting of Members, including the agenda and quorum requirements.

• Proxy form instructions, should you be unable to attend in person.

• Proposed By-Law amendments for member consideration; and

• Minutes of the September 23, 2024 AMM for approval.

Please note that the 2024-2025 audited financial statements are not yet included as the audit is still underway. These statements will be circulated to all members as soon as they are finalized and will be presented at the AMM for approval.

Your participation is essential to the success of our association. Please review these materials carefully and ensure you or your designated proxy are prepared to participate and vote.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment. I look forward to seeing you at Blue Mountain.

Warm regards,

Scott Andison, Chief Executive Officer

Ontario Home Builders’ Association

Please be advised that representatives will be voting on behalf of the DRHBA members. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this process, feel free to reach out to Stacey

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, representatives from DRHBA attended a stakeholder session on the proposed new Education Development Charge (EDC) for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB).

The EDC is area-specific and is only applicable to the Municipality of Clarington.  The background study for both school boards has been released and can be found here.

According to the background study, the land value appraisals ranged from $1.5 million to $2.125 million per acre in Clarington, and site preparation costs were estimated at $100,024 per acre. 

KPRDSB is projecting net education land costs at $113,023,395.00 and the net new dwellings at 21,266, creating a uniform residential EDC per dwelling unit at $5,315.

PVNCCDSB KPRDSB is projecting net education land costs at $65,244,088.00 and the net new dwellings at 21,266, creating a uniform residential EDC per dwelling unit at $3,068.

Due to provincial legislation, the school boards are only allowed to increase their development charge by $300 per year. 

By Year 5, the KPRDSB EDC would be $3,643, whereas the max rate is $5,315, leaving the school board with a shortage of $1,672 per dwelling unit.  Similarly, the PVNCCDSB’s Year 5 rate would be $2,702, a shortfall of $366 from their max rate of $3,068.

EDCs can only be used to purchase the land and to service the land for construction.

Both school board will be voting on the new EDC bylaws at their respective meetings on November 25, 2025.  If passed, the bylaws would come into effect five days after the passage.

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.