BUILDING DURHAM

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), the Honourable Rob Flack, has sent a letter to OHBA regarding interest charges on frozen and deferred development charges (DCs).  It is OHBA’s understanding that this letter has been sent directly to AMO, who has been directed to distribute it to heads of council of all DC-levying municipalities.

The following is a summary of key points from the Minister’s letter:

• Under existing provisions in the Development Charges Act, 1997, DCs continue to be frozen as of the date a site plan or zoning application is made.
• Municipalities retain authority to charge interest on frozen DCs up until building permit issuance, as these provisions were not amended by Bill 17.
• Bill 17 introduced a new requirement that DCs for non-rental residential developments be deferred to occupancy, at which point they are paid in full.
• Importantly, Bill 17 removed municipal authority to charge interest on all legislatively deferred DCs going forward.
• Any interest accrued on a deferred DC prior to November 3, 2025 remains payable.
• After November 3, 2025, municipalities may not charge any additional interest on deferred DCs.
• Developers continue to have the option to pay DCs earlier, at their own discretion, and no section 27 agreement is required to facilitate early payment.

These clarifications will be helpful in ensuring clarity and consistent interpretation across municipalities in supporting the implementation of the recent DC reforms coming out of Bill 17.

For reference, the Minster's Letter can be found here.

The Province has released a consultation proposing the consolidation of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven regional conservation authorities. This restructuring may affect watershed management, permitting processes, development timelines, and how conservation authority decisions are made across different parts of Ontario.

The Ministry is specifically looking for feedback on:
• Whether the proposed regional boundaries make sense
• Whether the criteria used to define those boundaries are appropriate
• How consolidation could affect permitting, local responsiveness, and development processes
• How impacts may vary across different geographic areas

Given the variation in local conditions and our industry’s diverse experiences with conservation authorities, your feedback is important to ensure OHBA can provide a clear, representative submission.

Please send your comments or experiences to Kirstin Jensen at OHBA (kjensen@ohba.ca) by December 17th so they may be included. ERO posting: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257

The statutory holidays recognized by the Province are December 25, December 26, and January 1. We would like to confirm whether your organization will be observing any additional days during the holiday season or if there are any updates to your notification instruction form. Our system follows the holiday protocols you've provided. However, if schedules or contact information have changed, we request you review and confirm your latest instructions. Ontario One Call requires this information to ensure accurate contact details for those days. We kindly ask that you inform us of any changes or additions to your holiday schedule by Thursday, December 11, 2025. You will receive a confirmation email once your updates are processed.

Please remember that, as per regulations, UIOs are required to respond to emergencies by clearing or being onsite within 2 hours, even on holidays. They are then required to report the status of the locate via 360 Feedback within 3 business days of completion. It is the responsibility of UIOs to ensure all necessary arrangements are in place to maintain compliance year-round. If we do not receive a response from you regarding this matter, we will accept that as a confirmation that you do not require any changes. To inform Ontario One Call please contact Member Services at memberservices@ontarioonecall.ca Please note OOC's Support Services will remain open throughout the holiday period, however, Member and Client Services will not be available on the Statutory Holidays. Regards, Ontario One Call

On Friday December 12^th, 2025, the Clarington Building Division is hosting a Builder’s Workshop at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, and we would like you to attend!

Please find the attached invitation which includes a list of speakers, topics, and RSVP information. 

If you wish to attend, please RSVP by 4:30pm on Friday December 5^th, 2025.  Please use the link below or scan the QR code to access the RSVP form.

RSVP form 

We’re pleased to inform you that the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has approved the Enbridge Gas 2026 roll-over for our Demand Side Management programs. Our Residential New Construction team with start to recruit builder participants for Energy Star for New Homes (ESNH) or equivalent & Net Zero Energy Ready (NZER).

Builders can claim December 2025 results towards 2026 if they have signed a 2026 application and the homes are tested after the date on the application. 

We are also happy to announce that 5 new municipalities are eligible for ESNH or equivalent due to Bill 17:  Ajax, King, Mississauga, Pickering, Toronto

Please be advised that service installations will not be scheduled between December 13, 2025, and January 12, 2026. Emergency work will be completed as an exception.

If you have any questions, please contact your respective Enbridge gas account manager.

Thank you for your attention to this important update.

The Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17) amended the Development Charges Act, 1997 to allow payment of the local/lower tier and regional/upper tier portion of development charges for non rental residential developments to be deferred from building permit issuance to either (a) issuance of an occupancy permit or (b) first occupancy of the building.

To operationalize this policy and improve collection certainty, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing amended Ontario's 2024 Building Code (Ontario Regulation 163/24). 

Effective November 3, 2025, occupancy permits are now required for all non-rental residential projects with deferred development charges. A municipality cannot issue the occupancy permit until the municipality confirms the deferred development charges are paid in full. Municipalities will be allowed up to 10 business days to complete the occupancy inspection for these developments in order to allow time for processing of the payment of deferred development charges, if necessary. 

Municipalities may continue to issue building permits as they do today. This is a timing change only for collection of municipal development charges where the applicant elects for deferral. Construction requirements determining when a building is safe for occupancy are also unchanged.

The updated provisions of the regulation are attached here. French translation available on request to codeinfo@ontario.ca . 

The Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) recognizes the provincial government’s work in taking reasonable measures to manage the Ontario economy during very uncertain times. While this Fall Economic Statement does not introduce any significant new policy initiatives; we are encouraged that opportunities may still exist for the government to implement much-needed measures due to tariffs and other economic challenges to stimulate the Ontario home construction industry and keep over 40,000 workers employed. 

Ontario’s Financial Outlook

The government is projecting deficits of $13.5 billion in 2025–26 and $7.8 billion in 2026–27, followed by a surplus of $0.2 billion in 2027–28. 

The net debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to be 37.7% in 2025–26, slightly lower than the forecasted 37.9% from the 2025 Budget. This ratio fell to a 13-year low last year. The net interest as a percentage of operating revenue ratio for 2025–26 is forecast to be 6.4% and remains close to the lowest levels it has been at since the 1980s. 

Ontario’s real GDP growth has been impacted by U.S. trade policy and tariffs and is projected to decelerate from 1.4% in 2024 to 0.8% in 2025 and 0.9% in 2026, in line with the projections at the time of the 2025 Budget. Real GDP growth is expected to pick up in subsequent years with projected increases of 1.8% in 2027 and 1.9% in 2028. 

It is heartening to see the additional funding of $50 million for the Better Jobs Ontario program. This program supports skills training to help job seekers train and upskill for in-demand positions. We recognize the importance of our skilled labourers, and that without additional support, Ontario was looking at losing up to 40,000 skilled trades jobs. This is an important measure to support our members and tradespeople across Ontario. 

The Minister of Finance reaffirmed the Ontario government’s commitment to remove the 8% PST for first-time home buyers on new homes valued up to $1 million, pending the passing of federal legislation (Bill C-4). With the ratio of net debt to GDP falling to a 13-year low, this will free up surplus revenues that can be diverted to priority projects. We firmly believe that taking decisive action to address the housing crisis and to restart home construction in Ontario must be one of these priorities.  

With that in mind, OHBA will continue to advocate for the removal of the provincial portion of the GST on ALL new home construction, not just for first-time home buyers.  According to research conducted by OHBA, first-time home buyers currently represent approximately 5% of the new home market. It will take bold action by all levels of government to unlock supply and restore affordability. We will continue to call on the Government of Ontario to lead by taking bold action that will make homeownership a reality for younger generations.  
We anticipate that the next few years will be marked by uncertainty and low economic growth. Consumers are not making the largest purchase of their lives if they aren’t certain of the future. OHBA remains committed to continuing to lobby the provincial government to expand this PST relief for all new-home sales in Ontario, and spur both the purchase and ongoing construction of new homes across the province. 

The full Fall Economic Statement can be found here. 

Key messages related to our industry if you are speaking to your Member of Provincial Parliament can be found here.

Yesterday, members of the Durham Region Home Builders Association gathered at the beautiful Harmony Events Centre in Oshawa for our Annual General Meeting. The afternoon featured an engaging fireside chat between Christine Giannone, Chair of OHBA, and Scott Andison, CEO of OHBA, expertly moderated by our Director Tiago do Couto.

The discussion showcased all the incredible work OHBA has accomplished in government relations on behalf of our members and provided insight into what’s ahead for our industry.

We also celebrated leadership transitions as Past President Shannon Hunt (GEMTEC) graciously welcomed Steve Brockstein of Tribute Communities into his new role as President for the 2025/2026 term. Shannon’s dedication and contributions over the past year were truly commendable, and we thank her for her outstanding service.

We are proud to introduce and formally acknowledge our 2025/2026 Board of Directors:

• Immediate Past President: Shannon Hunt – GEMTEC
• President: Steve Brockstein – Tribute Communities
• First Vice President: Dave Murphy - CedarOak Homes
• Builder/Renovator Directors:
• • Aries Lobrin – Sunny Communities
  • Peter Henley – Great Gulf
  • Theresa Gamble – Brookfield Residential
  • Bilal Khanani – Khanani Developments
• Trade Directors:
• • Jacqueline Van Londen – Alma Mechanical
  • Iain Cooper – Brass Inc
• Supplier Directors:
• • Michelle Vestergaard – Enbridge
  • Dan Moulton – Clarington Home Hardware
• Professional Directors:
• • Andrea Keeping – SCS Consulting
  • Brett Lewandowsky – D.G. Biddle and Associates
• Directors at Large:
• • Tiago do Couto – Minto Communities
  • Evan Holt – Shibley Righton LLP

We are thrilled to welcome back our returning board members and excited to work alongside our new directors as we continue to strengthen and grow our association.

Stay connected! We encourage all members to get involved by joining a committee, sharing your ideas, and helping shape the future of our industry. Keep an eye out for upcoming events and opportunities to network, learn, and make an impact!

OHBA is working with Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Office of Energy Research and Development (OERD) to offer an information session supporting the launch of an off-site construction challenge in Winter 2026 to drive innovation in support of:

During this session, OERD will provide an introduction to the challenge (the first in a series of funding opportunities) and will guide an interactive discussion on key aspects of its framework. Your input will help them better understand the types of multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) being built today as well as key considerations for projects that use off-site construction methods.

The session is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov 19^th from 9:00am until 10:30am on Zoom.

Please use the following registration link to receive the calendar hold: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/X9TZqCwdRGa-NNMGnnmKjg

Questions about the session can be sent to Miyoko Oikawa at OHBA – moikawa@ohba.ca