Ontario Construction News staff writer
Two of Ontario’s leading construction and development advocacy groups are voicing strong support for new provincial legislation designed to fast-track housing and infrastructure development amid growing concerns over affordability, job security, and delays across the sector.
The Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, introduced Monday by the Ontario government, aims to eliminate bureaucratic red tape, standardize regulations across municipalities, and reduce costs that industry leaders say have been stalling much-needed housing and infrastructure projects.
The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) and the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) both praised the bill as a necessary and timely intervention that reflects their long-standing calls for reform.
“The province’s leadership in resolving municipal bureaucratic roadblocks and streamlining the process to approve projects and release funding is a welcomed development,” said Nadia Todorova, executive director of RCCAO. “These reforms are comprehensive and signal meaningful steps toward tackling Ontario’s housing crisis and infrastructure delays.”
Key elements of the proposed legislation include:
- Standardized road-building regulations across the province
- Harmonized and deferred development charges
- Increased investment in water and wastewater infrastructure to support housing
- Broader application of the Building Transit Faster Act (2020) to all provincial transit projects
- Streamlined use of recycled construction materials to accelerate project timelines
The reforms are largely based on direct industry feedback, according to RCCAO, which sees the act as a critical opportunity to clear long-standing barriers to construction.
Echoing RCCAO’s endorsement, BILD emphasized the legislation’s potential to stabilize the construction industry amid a deepening housing supply shortage and economic uncertainty.
“This proposed legislation provides a much-needed focus on homes in a region facing a housing deficit and affordability challenges, while also protecting Canadian jobs and stimulating the economy,” said Dave Wilkes, President and CEO of BILD.
Wilkes noted that with 100% of the labour and 90% of materials for housing construction in the GTA sourced within Canada, the bill supports domestic economic growth as well as the homebuilding sector.
BILD highlighted the urgent need for implementation, pointing to a dramatic slump in housing starts—down nearly 60%—and new home sales in the Toronto CMA sitting at just 15% of the 10-year average.
Among the proposed changes BILD supports:
- Deferring development charges until first occupancy
- Simplifying and streamlining planning approvals and official plans
- Introducing consistent provincial construction standards to curb cost inflation and inefficiencies caused by fragmented municipal regulations
“We need strong leadership to get shovels in the ground and turn around the unprecedented downturn the industry is currently facing,” Wilkes said. “We applaud the leadership the province has taken by introducing these bold initiatives.”
Both RCCAO and BILD say swift implementation will be critical to ensuring the legislation delivers on its promise to boost housing supply, create jobs, and keep critical infrastructure projects moving forward across Ontario.