Advocacy – Ottawa Real Estate Board

Media Statement from OREB on the 2025 Ontario Budget

Ottawa – May 16, 2025 — Housing affordability and supply must be central to Ontario’s plan to protect our province against the threat of economic disruption caused by U.S. tariffs. The 2025 Ontario Budget makes important commitments to get more homes built faster and advance key local infrastructure projects that are crucial to our region’s long-term prosperity.

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) welcomes the additional $400 million in funding for the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) and Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF). This new investment will help municipalities get more homes built faster in Ottawa and in communities across Eastern Ontario.

In addition, OREB is also encouraged by the province’s new $50 million modular housing commitment. Faster, factory-built solutions are a viable path forward in areas where skilled labour shortages and high material costs have stalled progress.

OREB continues to encourage the province to make amendments the Highway Traffic Act that would exempt factory-built homes from seasonal weight restrictions. This change is essential to ensure these homes can be delivered year-round to the communities that need them.

Finally, OREB supports the province’s willingness to explore options for uploading the Ottawa LRT. Should this proceed, it has the potential to alleviate future capital costs for local taxpayers and unlock funding for other housing-supportive infrastructure.

Paul Czan
2025 OREB President

Cabinet Changes in the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Ottawa, May 13, 2025 – The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) extends its sincere gratitude to outgoing Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, for his dedicated service and commitment to addressing Canada’s housing challenges.

We congratulate and welcome The Honourable Gregor Robertson in his new role as Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. As Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson led key housing initiatives, including the Rental 100 program, which added nearly 4,000 new rental units, strengthening the city’s rental housing supply.

OREB looks forward to working collaboratively with Minister Robertson to advance practical, forward-thinking solutions to Canada’s housing challenges—especially in communities where the need for affordable, diverse, and accessible housing is growing more urgent.

With more than 4,000 REALTORS® serving communities across the Ottawa region, OREB remains committed to advocating for policies that increase housing supply, streamline approval processes, support innovative housing options, and encourage infrastructure investments that contribute to a healthy, resilient residential and commercial real estate environment.

We also extend our sincere congratulations to the Honourable David McGuinty on his appointment as Minister of National Defence. With his appointment, Ottawa gains a strong voice at the Cabinet table on national priorities.

OREB looks forward to working with Prime Minister Carney and the new federal Cabinet to address shared issues that impact our local economy, including infrastructure development, housing affordability, and community well-being.

Paul Czan
2025 OREB President

Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025

OTTAWA, May 12, 2025 – Housing must be a cornerstone of Ontario’s strategy to remain competitive and resilient in the face of global economic disruption. With the introduction of the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, the province is taking meaningful steps to get more homes built and protect the dream of home ownership for future generations.

If passed, the bill will help accelerate homebuilding and infrastructure development by streamlining planning approvals, standardizing development charges (DCs), and harmonizing building and road construction standards across municipalities. It would also remove barriers to innovation in construction, support transit-oriented communities, and reduce costly local development fees to make housing more affordable and accessible.

These measures include policy recommendations like reforming DCs, streamlining approvals and permitting new innovative housing types championed by the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB), the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) and REALTOR® associations from across the province.

Since 1921, the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) has been a trusted industry association. OREB’s over 4,000 REALTORS® are directly engaged with the housing needs and challenges of Ontarians every day. We are proud to contribute expert insight, data, and on-the-ground experience to support evidence-based policymaking.

OREB would like to thank Minister Flack for introducing this important piece of legislation. Given the size and scale of the housing affordability challenge, OREB encourages the province to continue to advance more policy changes in the weeks and months ahead. As a key partner, OREB is an advocate for a healthy residential and commercial housing environment that is affordable, accessible, and resilient for homeowners, renters, businesses and everyone who needs a place to live, work and thrive.

Now is the time to double down on our efforts to restore the dream of homeownership for hardworking families in Ottawa and across the province.

Paul Czan
2025 OREB President

OREB Congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney and Calls for Action on Housing Affordability

On behalf of more than 4,000 REALTOR® Members, the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney on his election victory. We also extend our gratitude to Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh, and all candidates across party lines for their dedication and willingness to serve Canadians through public office.

To the candidates in the Ottawa region, thank you for putting your name on a ballot. We congratulate and look forward to working with Bruce Fanjoy, Jenna Sudds, Marie-France Lalonde, Yasir Naqvi, David McGuinty, Mona Fortier, Anita Vandenbeld, and Giovanna Mangiarelli, on key housing issues and solutions.

Prime Minister Mark Carney assumes office at a pivotal time for Canadians. Pressing challenges like housing affordability, strained infrastructure, and economic uncertainty—exacerbated by trade challenges—demand strong and steady leadership. OREB is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to fulfill his commitment to addressing housing supply and affordability.

Ottawa’s housing needs are growing and evolving. From first-time buyers to families and newcomers, residents across the capital are feeling the pressure of limited housing supply and rising costs. These conditions are similar across the country.

When people can find a place to live that meets their needs and fits their budget—when businesses can grow because talent can stay—when young Canadians can picture a future of stability and ownership—Canada wins.

OREB is ready to work with the federal government to accelerate home construction, reduce red tape, and improve conditions across the housing landscape—from making homeownership more attainable, to supporting renters, and strengthening the commercial real estate environment.

Paul Czan,

OREB President

Get Out and Vote: Housing is on the Ballot

Canadians head to the polls on Monday, April 28, 2025, and it’s clear — housing is on the ballot.

To help our Members make an informed vote, OREB has compiled a summary of where the federal parties stand on key housing and real estate issues. Below, you will find a comparison table that outlines the housing policies of the major political parties. This information will help you understand how the next government in Ottawa will impact your business.

Throughout this campaign, OREB has reminded candidates that housing isn’t just a local issue — it’s a national economic concern. OREB has called for bold action to address the supply crisis, lower taxes on new homes, modernize development approvals, and restore affordability for buyers and renters alike.

Let’s make the REALTOR® voice heard in this campaign. Get out and vote. Here’s what you need to know:

Voting day is Monday, April 28th, 2025
Polls are open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Find your polling location and ID requirements at: www.elections.ca

We encourage you to read the comparison table below to see where each party stands on housing issues:

Conservative Party of Canada	Liberal Party of Canada	New Democratic Party of Canada	Green Party of Canada
Build 2.3 million homes over the next five years.	Create Build Canada Homes (BCH) to get the federal government back into the business of building affordable homes at scale, including on public lands partnering with builders. Target of 500,000 homes a year.	Encourage cities to build more homes, faster, by creating the new $8 billion Canadian Homes Transfer over four years. This plan is expected to help build more than 3 million homes.	Use covenants to make sure housing built with public money stays affordable forever.
Reimburse municipalities 50%, up to a maximum of $50,000 in savings for new homebuyers, for every dollar of relief a municipality offers in development charges.	Cut municipal development charges in half for multi-unit residential housing for a period of five years to lower the cost of homebuilding and make housing more affordable.	Encourage provinces to build more housing through a $8 billion Communities First Fund. This fund will help expand the water, sewage, and infrastructure foundations needed to support new housing.	Close loopholes to stop criminals from using real estate to launder money.
Eliminate the sales tax on new homes under $1.3 million, which will save homebuyers up to $65,000.	Eliminate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for first-time homebuyers on homes at or under $1 million.	Set aside 100% of suitable federal crown land to build over 100,000 rent-controlled homes by 2035.	Eliminate the unfair tax advantages for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).
Permit any person or business selling an asset to pay no capital gains tax when they reinvest the proceeds in Canada. Companies that reinvest in active Canadian businesses will also defer any capital gains tax.	Reintroduce the Multiple Unit Rental Building (MURB) cost allowance.	Require strong tenant protection measures from other levels of government as a condition for accessing federal housing funding. Introduce national rent control.	Stop corporations from buying up single family homes.
Sell off 6,000 federal buildings and thousands of acres of federal land to build new homes.	Reduce housing bureaucracy, zoning restrictions, and other red tape to have builders navigate one housing market, instead of 13.	Ban predatory financial landlords from buying any existing purpose-built rental apartments and any of Canada’s existing 650,000 social housing units.	Build 1.2 million permanently affordable homes (non-market rental or cooperative) over seven years.
Create 350,000 positions for trade schools and union halls to train red-seal apprentices to build homes, and we will bring back the $4000 apprenticeship grant that the Liberals plan to eliminate.	Provide an Apprenticeship Grant of up to $8,000 for registered apprentices.	Establish a Housing Insecurity Prevention Benefit to help 50,000 people in critical need find homes.	Restore the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) mandate to directly finance and develop non-market housing, as it did from the 1940s to the 1990s.
Identify 15% of federal land and buildings to sell in cities within the first 100 days of a new Conservative Government.	Facilitate the conversion of existing structures into affordable housing units.	Deliver a major home retrofit program to 2.3 million low-income households and offer grants and low-interest loans to 1 million more.	Require CMHC to provide long-term, low-interest loans to nonprofits, co-ops, and public housing agencies, cutting out private lenders to lower costs and accelerate the development of non-market homes.
Simplify the National Building Code, making it more affordable to safely build homes, while giving maximum flexibility for new materials and building methods.	Stand up Canada’s high-risk flood insurance program by April 2026 to support homeowners to reduce their exposure to future climate risk.	Maintain the two-thirds capital gains inclusion rate changes.	Mandate CMHC to establish five regional prefab/modular housing plants to mass-produce affordable housing.
	Act as a developer to build affordable housing at scale, including on public lands.	Require cities to allow more multi-unit homes in all neighbourhoods.	Create a dedicated infrastructure funding stream under the National Housing Strategy to support student housing development, supplementing investments by colleges and universities.
Cut red tape for builders and tradespeople, working with provinces to harmonize building code regulations.	Provide over $25 billion in financing to innovative prefabricated home builders in Canada.	Require more housing near public transit routes;	Expand the use of CMHC’s rental construction financing initiative to post-secondary institutions, incentivizing them to build affordable student housing.
Remove the requirement to report the sale of your home to the CRA.	Provide $10 billion in low-cost financing and capital to affordable home builders.		Increase the Canada Rental Protection Fund to help nonprofits acquire existing rental buildings and keep them permanently affordable.
	Publicly report on municipalities’ progress to speed up permitting and approval timelines and implement other commitments under the Housing Accelerator Fund.	Provide guidelines for using Canadian-made materials like steel, cement, and mass timber.	Extend the existing GST removal for developers of for-profit rental housing to include all homes built for affordable home ownership through organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
Scrap the Underused (Vacant) Housing Tax that costs more to administer than is collected in taxes.	Eliminate duplicate inspections and streamline regulations for prefabricated housing, including modular.	Support building prefabricated homes to help meet tight timelines.	Mandate CMHC to establish five regional prefab/modular housing plants to mass-produce affordable housing.
Tie infrastructure funding to cities that permit over 15% more homebuilding annually and reducing funding for those that fall short.	Leverage pre-approved, standardized housing designs across all public lands and encourage its adoption as-of-right across the country;	Freeze development charge increases and work with provinces to halve development charges that hold up construction.	Eliminate the GST on non-market housing construction materials.
Hold back federal dollars from cities that raise building fees or block needed development.	Speed up application approvals by allowing builders and other orders of government to apply for multiple projects at once.	Speed up permits and approvals so homes can get built faster.	Redesign and expand the Public Land Acquisition Fund, creating a dedicated, multi-year fund to bring more private land into public ownership for the construction of non-market affordable housing.

OREB Takes ‘Team Canada’ Approach on U.S. Travel and Economic Impact

As part of a broader ‘Team Canada’ response to ongoing U.S. tariffs and economic disruption, OREB’s Board of Directors has accepted a recommendation from the Governance Committee to pause all board-related travel to the United States, unless otherwise approved by the Committee.

This decision aligns with actions being taken across all levels of government, business, and industry to support Canadian interests during this time. The policy will be reviewed in late 2025.

OREB remains committed to investing in Canadian opportunities and partnerships that benefit our Members and the broader real estate community.

Ottawa Real Estate Board’s Statement on the 2025 Federal Election

The 2025 federal election comes at a time of profound economic uncertainty. Global trade disruptions, rising inflation, and the looming threat of renewed U.S. tariffs have put pressure on Canada’s economic resilience. Amid these challenges, there is no path to long-term economic stability without tackling Canada and Ottawa’s housing affordability and supply crisis.

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) is calling on all federal parties to treat housing as a national economic priority— and to back it up with real policy change. Housing is not just a social issue it is economic infrastructure. If workers and families cannot afford to live where jobs are, if employers cannot attract talent, and if young people have no path to ownership, Canada loses. Canada must dramatically lower the cost of building new homes and increase the speed by which they are brought to market. OREB is urging all federal parties to adopt three key recommendations:

1. Lower taxes and charges that block homebuilding

In many parts of Canada, government taxes & fees represent over a third of the final purchase costs of a new home. In Canada, we tax housing like we want less of it – not more. Eliminating the GST on all new homes under $1 million is a great first step. Canada must step up with more support for local governments to help them with the costs of housing enabling infrastructure. We cannot continue to tax housing so heavily if we want to build more of it.

2. Streamline approvals to speed up supply.

Excessive red tape is slowing down housing construction across the country. The federal government must work with provinces and municipalities to create performance-based funding models that reward faster, more predictable planning timelines. Here in Ottawa, this should include making it easier to accelerate the disposition of federal lands for affordable housing.

3. Accelerate innovation in housing.

Whether it’s factory-built modular homes or AI supported permitting platforms, innovation must be part of the solution to build more homes. The federal government can lead by offering tax credits, grants to municipalities and investing in housing sector research.

When it comes to clearing the way for more housing, its time to get our elbows up. A stronger more economically resilient Canada must include affordable homes for workers and families.

Paul Czan
2025 OREB President

Ottawa Real Estate Board Congratulates Our New Local MPPs on their Election Victories

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) congratulates George Darouze (Carleton), Karen McCrimmon (Kanata-Carleton), Tyler Watt (Nepean), Stephen Blais (Orléans), Catherine McKenney (Ottawa Centre), John Fraser (Ottawa South), Lucille Collard (Ottawa-Vanier) and Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West-Nepean) on their election victories.

OREB also congratulates Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party on securing a third consecutive majority government. Premier Ford’s re-election reflects Ontarians’ strong desire for stable leadership on the economy and housing affordability.

Since taking office, Ford’s government has worked to address Ontario’s housing challenges by reducing bureaucratic barriers, streamlining development approvals, and investing in infrastructure. These measures are critical to ensuring that more families, first-time buyers, and newcomers can find homes in Ottawa and across the province.

Ottawa REALTORS® are eager to work with all MPPs to advance policies that support homeownership, improve housing affordability and ensure Ontario remains a competitive and attractive place to live and invest. Addressing housing supply and affordability must remain a top priority as the province continues to grow.

Part of the plan to protect Ontario from the impact of U.S. tariffs must include stronger efforts to lower taxes on housing and speed up the construction of homes that families can afford. Ontario must also ramp up efforts to reform the Landlord and Tenant Board and clear the backlog of cases affecting the rental housing market.

OREB and its Members look forward to working with all elected representatives to deliver real solutions for Ottawa families striving to buy, sell or rent a home in the nation’s capital.

OREB Applauds New Housing Initiative and Zoning

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) endorses today’s substantial federal and municipal housing announcement, committing $176 million through the Housing Accelerator Fund to expedite the creation of 4,400 new housing units over three years and stimulate the construction of 32,600 homes in the next decade.

OREB is encouraged by these efforts, which parallel our advocacy for more inclusive housing policies. The initiatives announced, including Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s pledge to advance the Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw, resonate with OREB’s recommendations—particularly the proposal to allow up to four residential units on property lots to enhance density and address inventory shortages. We call on the mayor and city officials to deliver this commitment by passing the comprehensive bylaw review process by 2025.

Recent market indicators highlight the urgency for such measures. In January 2024, the months of inventory reduced to 3.1 months from 3.5 months in January 2023. This signals a tight market with room for improvement in housing supply. Fast-tracking 4,400 new home units is a positive start in addressing the housing supply concerns.

OREB has consistently called for an increased supply of affordable housing and rental units. We are particularly pleased that the funding targets more rental units, affordable housing, and missing middle housing. The bylaw review process’s potential to allow four units as-of-right on property lots is a transformative change we have long supported.

This announcement represents a significant step towards meeting the persisting demand for housing in Ottawa. As we await the implementation of these zoning changes, OREB is steadfast in our commitment to supporting our Member REALTORS® and the community—advocating for a housing market that is both accessible and robust.

A Special Message from the Ottawa Real Estate Board: Promoting a more inclusive and accepting community

This message on behalf of the board of directors is to address the recent social media posts and discussions by members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) promoting hateful thoughts against the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Hate has no place in our community. OREB unequivocally and unapologetically condemns any message or behaviour of intolerance and divisiveness against all persons, families and communities.

Chief among the values that we uphold are professionalism, integrity and ethical practice. At OREB, we are resolute in our commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our staff, our members, and clients. We believe in treating everyone with respect and ensuring that our industry serves the needs of all individuals, and we will continue our efforts to promote a more inclusive and accepting community.

Ken Dekker
Ottawa Real Estate Board
2023 President