Ontario is abundant in many things, but unfortunately, housing isn’t one of them. As droves of people move to the province and build families, community infrastructure has struggled to keep up.
Recent data shows this problem currently affects all of Canada, but its most populous region bears the greatest burden. According to recent data, Ontario has ranked among the bottom half of provinces in terms of homebuilding per capita over the last six years. Shortages are believed to be attributable to several reasons, namely lengthy approval processes, restrictive zoning regulations, skilled labour shortages, and escalating material costs that have outpaced both inflation and wage growth.
The result is a market increasingly inaccessible to everyday people. First-time homebuyers face unprecedented barriers to entry, while young families find themselves priced out of communities where they grew up. Even middle-class professionals struggle to secure affordable housing within reasonable commuting distance of their workplaces, forcing difficult choices between financial stability and quality of life. That spells bad news for any region looking to grow its economy.
What’s the Goal?
Doug Ford’s government was recently reelected under a promise for change across the board. One of the most significant? Getting 1.5 million homes built by 2021. Progress to date is both slow and unclear. There’s conflict over what does and doesn’t constitute a ‘new home’, with long-term care beds and secondary on-premise units holding different statuses.
How Low Home Building Statistics are Being Remedied
The Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 was brought onto the Legislative Assembly’s docket on May 12th. It then received royal assent on June 5th. Key goals include streamlining the development approval process, reducing regulatory barriers for builders, and establishing clearer timelines for municipal permit approvals.
The Act’s measures have been summarized below.
Expedited Approvals: Municipalities must process residential development applications within specified timeframes or face financial penalties
Zoning Reform: Restrictions on multi-unit housing in traditionally single-family neighbourhoods are being relaxed
Funding for Infrastructure: Additional provincial funding for water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure to support new developments
Investment In Skilled Trades Initiatives: Expanded training programs and immigration pathways for construction workers to address labou00r shortages
This is just one of many initiatives aimed at reinvigorating the province’s housing supply.
The Home Renovation Savings Program was also introduced this year, offering up to 30% cost coverage for energy-efficient home upgrades. Municipalities have been further incentivized to meet outlined targets by bonus funding from the province.
Tracking Proves to Be a Problem
Tracking these achievements has become increasingly opaque. Initially, the government created a public resource to show which municipalities were hitting their marks and which were falling behind. This transparency was short-lived. By October 2024, as housing starts began to stutter across the province, the government quietly stopped updating the tracker. By spring, the website had vanished entirely, replaced only by a message telling users to “try again later.”
Government documents reveal that officials finished tallying which municipalities met their housing targets as early as mid-February, yet the province has refused to release this data for months. This lack of transparency raises serious questions about accountability – if the government won’t share how municipalities are performing, how can taxpayers assess whether their ambitious housing commitments are being met when they’re needed most?
Ontario Housing Minister Addresses Low Home Building Statistics
In a recent news interview, the Ontario Housing Minister addressed low home building statistics as something to work on, both in terms of volume of infrastructure and quantity of data available. The most recent information from a briefing document published by Rob Flack’s office in March shows Ontario housing starts in 2024 were down 17 per cent year over year.
The timeline for improvement is set. All that stands in the way is effective execution – translating ambitious legislation into tangible results that actually put roofs over heads. Whether Ontario can bridge the gap between policy promises and construction reality will determine if the province’s housing crisis becomes a footnote in its growth story or a defining challenge of this decade.
Your Timeline for Improvement is Our Priority
Pacd Homes isn’t your average builder. We’re more than just a business—we’re a passionate team of professionals who genuinely love what we do and take pride in every project we take on. When you work with us, you’re partnering with people who are just as invested in your vision as you are. Whether you’re looking to create a rental property, student housing, or a guest suite, we specialize in designing and building high-quality Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) that maximize space, functionality, and long-term value. From standalone backyard units to attached additions, Pacd Homes brings innovation and craftsmanship to every detail. Contact us today to discuss your next project.
