Doug Ford has been re-elected as Premier of Ontario in a victory many rental housing professionals and associated sectors were hoping for. On June 2, 2022, the party won a majority government for the second term, triggering the resignation of NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca.
“Tonight’s victory — it isn’t about me, it isn’t about the party,” Ford said afterwards to a round of applause in Etobicoke. “This victory belongs to every worker who knows that they deserve better. Every family knows that they can dream bigger.”
Though not all Ford’s policies have gained favour among the masses, threats of rent control and other divisive strategies proposed by his opponents had landlords and housing developers fearing the alternative. The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) was quick to issue a statement congratulating the returning Premier, while also emphasizing the importance of housing supply.
“There is a broad consensus that the roots of the region’s housing challenges lie in the lack of supply, which is fuelling the affordability crisis,” said Dave Wilkes, President and CEO of BILD. “Now is the time to take bold and decisive action to address the underlying policy issues that have constrained land supply, added costs to new housing and slowed the addition of new supply to the market.”
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) also offered congratulates to the Ontario PCs, calling out Steve Clark and Monte McNaughton specifically for recognizing the importance of residential construction and the skilled trades to the broader economy.
“We are looking forward to working with the government on urgent initiatives to boost the supply of housing, modernize the development application process, and move forward with programs to get more people into the voluntary trades,” said Richard Lyall, President, RESCON. “We were especially pleased at the commitment during the campaign to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years.”
Since passing the “More Homes, More Choice Act” in 2019, the PC government has taken many positive steps to address the housing crisis and commit to boosting housing supply with an ongoing plan RESCON says it supports. However, the group also encourages more action be taken to address the supply situation given the influx of immigrants expected to arrive in the coming years. Suggestions include embracing innovation, streamlining the development approvals process, and continuing with initiatives that clear the path for more youth, women, and people from underrepresented groups to learn the specialized skill sets needed to work in residential construction.
“Ontario’s PCs have played a leadership role in addressing the ongoing housing crisis since taking office,” Lyall said in conclusion. “They have listened to the concerns of the residential construction industry and have been working towards a solution to the significant housing supply deficit.”
For its part, the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) is pleased with the results of last night’s election and looks forward to continuing down the progressive path it established during Ford’s first term.
“FRPO would like to congratulate Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario on their election victory and second consecutive majority government,” Tony Irwin, President, FRPO said. “We look forward to building on the progress that has been made over the past four years with Premier Ford, his Cabinet and Caucus, to tackle the housing supply crisis while also striking the right balance between strong consumer protection for residents and a well-functioning industry for rental housing providers.”
