The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) is calling for immediate action to speed up the approvals process and create conditions conducive to building new homes across Canada. To spark discussion and find solutions to the restrictions caused by “runaway bureaucracy, endless red tape, exorbitant taxes, and an approvals system that is slow, antiquated and dysfunctional,” RESCON is hosting its fourth annual housing summit on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
“In many ways, we are still in the dark ages when it comes to housing approvals,” said Richard Lyall, president of RESCON. “The residential construction industry is handcuffed by the extensive labyrinth of restrictive rules, cumbersome processes and exorbitant fees. It’s like a self-inflicted wound. Plans that have been developed lack focus and vision and it will take a serious epiphany to turn the situation around.”
Discussions and presentations will cover a variety of key topics such as taxes, fees and levies, public policy initiatives, public opinion surveys, market analysis and potential solutions.
Confirmed speakers to date include Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie, Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, London Mayor Josh Morgan, Tony Irwin of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO), Jason Mercer of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), Marlon Bray of Clark Construction Management, David Coletto of Abacus Research, David Amborski of TMU, Corey Pacht of Fitzrovia, architect Naama Blonder, and Jag Sharma2, deputy city manager, development and growth services at the City of Toronto. Sponsors are FRPO, TRREB and Enbridge.
“We are in the midst of Canada’s worst-ever housing affordability and supply crisis,” says Lyall. “Housing starts are down, the condo market is deteriorating to levels not seen since the recession in the 1990s, and we are falling far short of the number of homes that need to be built to make housing affordable and attainable. Approval timelines are growing longer and taxes on a new home are jaw-dropping, as they now account for 31 per cent of the price tag, which is only adding insult to injury.”
To register for the summit, click here
