At the June 11th Durham Region Finance and Administration Committee meeting, finance staff walked-on Report 24-F-16 – Recommended Amendment to Regional Development Charges By-Law #42-2023 to Remove Phase-in Rates Effective July 1, 2024.
The report was passed by the committee and will be brought to Regional Council on June 26, 2024. The report recommends that Council amend the previously passed Report 2024-F-10 (passed on May 29, 2024 – to remove the phase-in of DCs upon the passage of Bill 185) to remove the phase-in as of July 1, 2024 to coincide with indexing.
If passed by Regional Council, the following DC rates would come into effect on July 1, 2024:
Full rates can be found in this report.
The report also recommends that:
Any complete submission for the preparation of a subdivision agreement received by the Development Approvals Division of the Regional Works Department on or prior to July 1, 2024 be given the option of being processed under the policies and rates of the current DC By-Law #42-2023 (i.e. without the changes recommended in the amending by-law) or the proposed amended DC By-law, where a complete submission requires all of the following to have been submitted to the Development Approvals Division in a form satisfactory to the Region:
Subdivision agreements that have been processed according to By-Law #42-2023 (i.e. without the changes recommended in the amending by-law) must be executed within three months of July 1st, 2024 (September 30th, 2024), otherwise they shall be deemed cancelled and will be replaced with a subdivision agreement processed according to the amended DC By-law, where execution requires all of the following to have been submitted to the Regional Legal Services in a form satisfactory to the Region:
The Durham Region Home Builders’ Association and BILD appealed the Region’s new development charge bylaw last year, and that appeal is ongoing.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has released a digital version of the two-volume English 2024 Ontario Building Code (OBC) Compendium. Use this link to request a free copy online today. A hard copy of the 2024 Building Code Compendium is still in development and will be made available through Publications Ontario. You can sign up to be notified when the binders are in stock here. Note that Building Code exams will continue to use the 2012 Building Code provisions until a later date, to be confirmed by MMAH.
OHBA is committed to supporting our members through this transition. We are continuing to work closely with MMAH and other key partners to coordinate follow-up training around the 2024 OBC. We look forward to announcing more information about updates and training in the coming months!
As a reminder, to ease the implementation of the new Building Code, MMAH has provided a transition period for code users. The 2024 OBC has an in-effect date of January 1, 2025, with a further three-month transition period until March 31, 2025, for building permit applications for which the working drawings were substantially complete before January 1, 2025.
If you have any immediate questions or concerns about this, please contact OHBA's Miyoko Oikawa.
Muriel Jeffery, who founded Jeffery Homes with her late husband, John Wayne Jeffery, passed away on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024 at the age of 81.
Muriel and Wayne Jeffery started Jeffery Home almost 50 years ago and she continued to develop communities within Durham Region along with her family.
Service details can be found here and the full obituary can be found here.
TORONTO, APRIL 15, 2024 – The Ontario Home Builders' Association (OHBA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Scott Andison as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 15, 2024. Andison, a seasoned leader with a formidable background in the public and private sectors as well as not-for-profit organizations, will lead the OHBA through a renewed period of strategic growth and advocacy.
Andison's career is marked by notable leadership roles that span the private sector and extensive service within the Ontario government, demonstrating a versatile skill set that bridges both realms effectively. His leadership in executive roles in the private sector showcases his acumen in business development, operational excellence, and navigating regulatory landscapes.
Within the Ontario government, Andison served in critical roles in the ministries of Finance and Education and, more recently, as the Executive Director of Health System Strategy at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, where he was instrumental in the development and delivery of strategic initiatives aimed at improving health service delivery and outcomes. His expertise in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and program implementation within complex government structures highlights his capability to navigate and influence public sector environments effectively.
Beyond his direct government service, Andison's tenure as President & CEO of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) further exemplifies his leadership prowess, particularly in advocacy and association management within the housing sector. In this capacity, Andison adeptly balanced member interests with governmental policies, spearheading initiatives that promoted sustainable growth and regulatory improvements on behalf of members.
"We are exceptionally pleased to welcome Scott Andison as OHBA’s Chief Executive Officer. His extensive experience in both the private sector and within the Ontario government equips him with a unique perspective and set of skills that are ideal for leading our association," said the OHBA Board President Dave Depencier. "Scott’s proven leadership, combined with his strategic vision and deep understanding of both the governmental and private sectors, will propel OHBA and the interests of our members forward."
Andison expressed his commitment to leveraging his diverse experience for the benefit of OHBA, stating, "I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at the OHBA. My experiences across the private sector and within the Ontario government have prepared me to lead this association effectively. I am very excited for the opportunity to direct my experience and passion to support Ontario’s developers, builders and renovators to build the housing choices that Ontarians need and can afford."
In this new chapter, the OHBA is set to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the residential new home construction industry with renewed vigor, ensuring that the association remains a pivotal force in shaping policy, fostering industry growth, and supporting its members.
To facilitate the transition, Neil Rodgers will pivot into a Strategic Advisor capacity over the next several months, working daily with Scott.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Neil for his commitment and dedication to OHBA over the last several months in serving as our Interim CEO. He fulfilled a critical role in stabilizing the operation, building relationships within the association community, and advancing our government relations strategy to ensure housing supply remains the top priority for all levels of government,” said President Dave Depencier.
In the years since the pandemic, Canada’s housing sector has faced increasingly difficult challenges, compounded by high interest rates that slowed the economy and home construction. Today, the national housing crisis presents one of Canada’s greatest social and economic challenges. Canada needs to build more homes, faster, to meet the demand of our growing communities.
The Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Fraser announced Canada’s vision and plan to solve Canada's national housing crisis. Through Canada’s Housing Plan, the government is committing to building more homes, faster; increasing housing affordability; growing the community housing sector; and, making it easier to rent or buy a home.
Canada is rising to this challenge by:
Building more homes
Making the math work for homebuilders
Working with communities to build more housing, faster
Changing the way we build homes
Growing and training the workforce
Making it easier to rent or own a home
Protecting renters
Getting you into your first home
Supporting current homeowners
Protecting Canada’s existing housing stock
Helping Canadians who can’t afford a home
Increasing the supply of affordable housing in Canada
Providing funding to communities to help end homelessness
At the April 8th Clarington General Government committee meeting, staff walked on Report CAO-002-24 - The Perfect Storm - Impact of Provincial Changes on our Community.
DRHBA is specifically concerned about Recommendation #3 in the report, which states:
"That Fiscal Impact Assessments be undertaken for all Secondary Plans (inclusive of those completed) to understand the full impact of the legislative changes on each, in particular parkland and DC revenues, and report back to Council prior to any further approvals (inclusive of development application approvals)."
DRHBA's Government Relations (GR) Committee is actively working on this issue. Any landowners in Clarington are encouraged to reach out to Stacey to ensure they receive all future updates.
On April 10, 2024, the Ontario government introduced Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024. The legislation, positioned as an omnibus red tape reduction bill, contains the next round of proposed policy changes that form part of the housing supply action plans that the Ford government has committed to releasing on an annual basis.
Click here to read OHBA's full Member Update on Bill 185.
OHBA Member Update - Ontario Building Code
The newly harmonized next edition of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) was filed on April 10, 2024. This resulted in over 1,730 provisions changing within the next code. OHBA remains committed to working with MMAH and other key stakeholders, such as the Ontario Building Officials' Association, to ensure a successful transition to 2024 OBC.
Resources
Key Dates and Transition Plan
Proposed Code Changes that ARE NOT Moving Forward Within the 2024 OBC
There are two key items that were proposed for adoption into the 2024 Ontario Building Code that will not be moving forward within the next edition as they did not meet the key criteria applied under the Ministry's analysis:
Key Aspects of the 2024 Ontario Building Code
Division A and C administrative changes introduce multiple definitions supporting harmonization with the National Building Code (NBC) and Ontario-only requirements. We recommend that members take the time to review all the proposed changes, but have flagged the following key items to be aware of:
Radon
Two Unit Houses (Secondary Suites)
Large Buildings (Accessibility)
Structural Design
Fully harmonize with National's recent structural design changes, including:
Additional information around the 2024 OBC will be delivered to members through a series of OHBA webinars and training sessions. Please look out for registration in the coming days.
OHBA will be supported by MMAH as they look to roll out the 2024 OBC and have committed to providing members with technical bulletins, webinars and seminars.
DRHBA is hosting an OBC Update session as part of the LEEP session on May 2, 2024 at Deer Creek in Ajax. More details on this event can be found here.
Oshawa – March 18, 2024 – The Durham Region Home Builders’ Association (DRHBA) has released the finalists for the 2024 Awards of Excellence. This year, DRHBA had over 100 entries and judges from across Canada have scored the submissions and chosen this year’s winners.
These prestigious awards celebrate excellence in new homes, home renovations, innovative technology and construction, outstanding presentation, and marketing of projects within Durham Region.
Please join us in person for this year’s Awards of Excellence ceremony! DRHBA will be hosting the in-person gala on Thursday, April 25th at 5:30 p.m. at the Towneplace Suites by Marriott, located at 1011 Bloor Street East in Oshawa. Please click here to purchase your tickets. Don’t delay – ticket sales close on April 12, 2023.
If you have any questions regarding DRHBA’s Awards of Excellence, please contact Erica at erica@drhba.com or 905-579-8080 ext. 1.
This year’s finalists include:
Sales & Marketing Finalists
Excellence in Digital Advertisement
Excellence in Interior Decorating
Excellence in Logo Design
Excellence in New Homes Sales Office
Excellence in Sales Brochure Design
Excellence in Signage
Excellence in Social Media
Excellence in Website Design
Finalists – New Home Design - Custom
Excellence in Custom Built Bathroom Design
Excellence in Custom Built Kitchen Design
Excellence in Custom Built Home Under 3,500 sq.ft.
Excellence in Custom Built Home Over 3,501 sq.ft.
Finalists – New Home Design – Production
Excellence in Back-to-Back Townhome
Excellence in Stacked/Back-to-Back Townhouse Building Design
Excellence in Stacked/Back-to-Back Townhouse Unit Design
Excellence in Building Design (Mid-Rise & High-Rise)
Excellence in Multi-Unit Suite Design (Mid-Rise and High-Rise)
Excellence in Production Built Bathroom Design
Excellence in Production Built Home Under 2,500 sq.ft.
Excellence in Production Built Home 2,501 – 3,500 sq.ft.
Excellence in Production Built Home over 3,501 sq.ft.
Excellence in Production Built Kitchen Design
Excellence in Townhome under 2,000 sq.ft.
Excellence in Townhome Over 2,000 sq.ft.
Finalists – RenoMark Home Renovator Awards
Excellence in Bathroom Renovation
Excellence in Home Renovation/Addition Over $250,001
Excellence in Home Renovation/Addition Under $250,000
Excellence in Kitchen Renovation
Excellence in Unique Space
Outstanding Achievement Awards
Excellence in Training & Development
Innovation of the Year
Sales Team of the Year
Supplier of the Year
Professional of the Year
Renovator of the Year
Corporate Citizenship
Community of the Year
Green Builder of the Year
Builder of the Year – Small Volume
Builder of the Year – Large Volume
People’s Choice Award – Finalists
Vote Online for the People’s Choice Winner here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SG2N77N
Voting for the People's Choice Award closes on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 5 p.m.
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Phone: 905-579-8080
Email: info@drhba.com
Address:
1-1255 Terwillegar Avenue
Oshawa, Ontario
L1J 7A4
Copyright © 2019, Durham Region Home Builder's Association, All Rights Reserved Durham Region Home Builders' Association is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. 1-1255 Terwillegar Avenue Oshawa, Ontario L1J 7A4