Community-partners – Ottawa Real Estate Board

OREB Welcomes Pro-Housing Measures in the 2026 Ontario Budget

OTTAWA, ON – The 2026 Ontario Budget comes at a critical time for Ottawa’s housing market, as pent-up demand, persistent supply shortages, rising development, and ownership costs continue to impact affordability, limit mobility for Ontarians, and restrict available housing at certain price points and inventory types.

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) welcomes the removal of the full 13 per cent HST on qualifying new home purchases through a combined provincial and federal rebate from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, subject to federal legislation. Eligible buyers could receive up to $130,000 in relief, with full benefits applying to homes valued up to $1 million.

By lowering upfront costs, this time-limited rebate is expected to provide short-term relief for homebuyers, support move-up activity, and encourage additional housing supply. It represents a meaningful step toward reducing upfront barriers at a time when many households continue to face barriers to entering or moving within the housing market.

OREB also welcomes the province’s investment in housing-enabling infrastructure, alongside the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund to support municipalities delivering new homes, and continued investments in supportive housing. These measures are essential to unlocking supply.

The province’s commitment to work with the federal government to support municipalities that reduce development charges is also a crucial step, as these costs remain a key driver of housing affordability.

Together, these measures reflect the coordinated, multi-level government approach OREB has consistently called for and builds on sustained advocacy from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), and partners across the real estate and homebuilding sectors.

OREB recognizes the leadership of Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and Premier Doug Ford and will continue to advocate on behalf of REALTORS® for practical, permanent solutions that reduce costs, accelerate housing supply, and deliver meaningful progress for consumers in Ottawa and across Ontario.

OREB Responds to Federal GST Rebate for First-Time Home Buyers

Ottawa, ON – The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) acknowledges that Bill C-4, the Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, has received Royal Assent, bringing into law key affordability measures, including a GST rebate for first-time home buyers.

The measure removes GST on new homes up to $1 million for first-time buyers and reduces it on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. This is a targeted step to support market entry, but emphasizes that broader action is required to address ongoing affordability challenges.

OREB continues to advocate for co-ordinated action across all levels of government, including advancing a provincial HST rebate and expanding tax relief on newly built homes to support housing supply and improve affordability, alongside measures to streamline development approvals.

Media contact

Melanie Coulson
Director of Strategic Communications & Engagement
613-225-2240 ext. 247| melanie@oreb.ca

Housing and Affordability Take Centre Stage in Ottawa’s 2026 Municipal Election

While nearly half of voters undecided for mayor and council, Sutcliffe starts 2026 with a lead

Ottawa, ON – With less than nine months until Ottawa voters head to the polls, a wide-open municipal election is taking shape, and housing affordability is emerging as one of the clearest issues likely to determine who wins and who loses.

To date, three candidates have officially declared their intention to run for mayor: Mark Sutcliffe, the incumbent; Jeff Leiper, a long-time Kitchissippi Ward councillor and chair of the city’s planning and housing committee; and Alex Lawson, a local home builder. Neil Saravanamuttoo, an economist with senior experience at Finance Canada and the G20 Global Infrastructure Hub, recently announced that he is considering entering the race.

New public opinion research from the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) was conducted in December 2025 by Abacus Data, prior to Lawson and Saravanamuttoo jumping into the race. It shows that 49% of Ottawa residents remain undecided about who they will support for mayor, while 47% are undecided at the city council level, underscoring how unpredictable the race is.

On the question of voting intention for mayor, 28% would cast their ballot for Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, 10% for Councillor Jeff Leiper, and 49% are undecided if the election were held today.

Similarly, 32% of residents would vote to re-elect their current city councillor, and 47% are undecided on how to vote if the election were held today.

At the same time, many residents are questioning whether the city is doing enough, quickly, setting the stage for housing, cost of living, and service delivery to become decisive election issues.

A city divided on direction, with voters still up for grabs

According to the survey, almost four in ten Ottawa residents (38%) believe the city is headed in the right direction, while a similar share believes the city is on the wrong track, and a significant portion remain unsure.

This uncertainty in the city’s direction mirrors the uncertainty in the political landscape, with roughly half of voters still weighing their choices for both mayor and council.

“With nearly half of voters undecided, the election in Ottawa is still taking shape,” said Tami Eades, president of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “Voters are forming their opinions, so there is a real opportunity for candidates in these early stages to focus on policy and what solutions they’ll bring to council if elected. One thing is clear: the data shows that housing affordability and cost of living are front of mind as voters assess who they trust to lead the city.”

Cost of living and housing dominate voter priorities

Housing affordability and cost of living stand out as the most important issues shaping how residents will vote.

More than one in three residents (37%) identify cost of living as the most important issue facing Ottawa today, followed by housing affordability (19%), transit reliability (11%), and homelessness and encampments (10%). When asked what candidates should be focused on heading into the 2026 election, nearly two-thirds (63%) say cost of living should be a priority, while more than half (53%) point to housing affordability.

Housing and related costs are set to play a decisive role at the ballot box. Eighty-two per cent of residents say housing-related issues will be important in determining who they support in the 2026 municipal election, underscoring the central role housing policy will play in shaping the next council’s agenda.

“A home is the biggest cost in most family budgets,” said Eades. “With so many voters undecided, candidates have a real opportunity to connect with voters on issues like housing and get them interested in their campaigns.”

Residents want action and results on housing

The research shows that Ottawa residents are concerned about the state of housing. Nearly four in five residents (79%) say housing is unaffordable, while only five per cent believe it is affordable today. Over the past year, 52% say affordability for homebuyers has worsened, and 57% say affordability for renters has declined, despite market statistics showing some easing, highlighting sustained pressure across both ownership and rental markets.

Housing affordability is also reshaping long-term decisions for many households. Among homeowners, nearly one in four (24%) say they plan to give or pass their home on to their children or family members rather than sell it on the open market, a signal of growing concern that homeownership is becoming increasingly out of reach for the next generation.

“For many families, housing affordability has become a generational issue,” said Nicole Christy, CEO of OREB. “Parents are giving up financial flexibility to afford their kids a chance at homeownership and the many benefits it brings. Voters want solutions to this and more.”

Housing policy as a test of leadership

Beyond housing, the survey highlights broader issues shaping voter attitudes ahead of October 26, 2026. Seventy-six per cent of Ottawa residents say they are concerned about the future of downtown, including vacancies, safety, and economic activity. Confidence in major city projects and municipal finances is mixed, and 40% of residents say they would prefer to keep taxes as low as possible, even if services do not improve.

“With so many voters still undecided, housing affordability isn’t just another policy issue, it’s a litmus test,” said Christy. “Candidates who can bring innovative solutions or show real progress on housing will be best positioned to earn trust in 2026.”

About the survey

The Ottawa Real Estate Board–Abacus Data State of Housing Survey was conducted from December 10 to 22, 2025, among 1,000 residents of the City of Ottawa. Results are accurate within ±2.77 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB)

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) is a non-profit association representing more than 4,000 member REALTORS® in the Ottawa region. OREB advocates for policies that promote housing affordability, protect consumers, and support a fair and efficient real estate commercial and residential marketplace.

Media contact

Melanie Coulson
Director of Strategic Communications & Engagement
613-222-7129 | melanie@oreb.ca

OREB Welcomes Adoption of New Zoning By law

OTTAWA, ON – Ottawa is facing a housing affordability crisis affecting residents across the city. Young families are being priced out of neighbourhoods where they work and grew up; seniors are unable to downsize within their own communities, and both homebuyers and renters are struggling to find housing that meets their needs at a cost they can afford. OREB’s REALTORS® work every day with buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants, and see first-hand how limited housing choice and rising costs affect both those seeking housing and those working to provide it.

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) welcomes city council’s decision to adopt the Zoning By law, intended to address Ottawa’s housing affordability challenges.

The new zoning by-law is good for home buyers and sellers. It will increase housing supply and expand the range of attainable housing options across the city. The new by-law provides the regulatory foundation needed to deliver more homes in the locations where people want and need to live. It also supports mixed use and transit-oriented development, reduces unnecessary barriers such as minimum parking requirements in urban areas, and creates greater certainty for housing investment.

The new zoning by-law is also good for landlords and tenants. It modernizes zoning rules, providing greater certainty for investment in more affordable rental housing. This will give renters more choice and reduce pressure on the cost of rental housing.

OREB acknowledges that zoning reform is not easy. Across Ontario, municipalities have announced ambitious housing policies only to retreat or dilute them in the face of local opposition. Ottawa’s decision to adopt the new Zoning By law demonstrates leadership and alignment with its Official Plan, housing targets, and long-term economic interests.

OREB is proud to have been one of the leading advocates for the new zoning by-law. Notably, OREB made the new zoning by-law a key component of its delegations to city committees, a priority issue during its recent days of action, a focus of our opinion editorials over the past year, and recent research we commissioned with Abacus Data.

OREB appreciates the leadership shown by Mayor Sutcliffe, Members of Council, and City staff, and looks forward to continuing to work collaboratively to support policies that expand housing opportunities for Ottawa residents.

Housing and affordability top voter concerns as Ottawa heads toward 2026 elections

82 per cent of residents say housing-related issues will be important in determining who they support in the 2026 municipal election

Ottawa, ON — With just nine months until the 2026 municipal elections, housing affordability and the cost of living will continue to be the most pressing issues for Ottawa residents, according to new public opinion research from Abacus Data released today by the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB). The poll is among the largest surveys of Ottawa residents since the 2022 municipal election, with 1,000 responses.

Cost of living a major concern

According to the survey, more than one in three residents (37 per cent) say cost of living is the most important issue facing Ottawa today, followed by housing affordability (19 per cent), LRT confidence and transit reliability (11 per cent), and homelessness and encampments (10 per cent). Cost of living was identified by 63 per cent of residents as a priority issue that candidates running in the 2026 Ottawa municipal election should be focused on, followed by housing affordability (53 per cent), transit reliability (37 per cent), and the city budget and taxes (32 per cent).

“People are struggling to make ends meet, and they want action to help make life more affordable,” said Tami Eades, president of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “A home is the biggest cost in most families’ budgets, so the number one thing the city can do to ease the cost-of-living crisis is to help generate more attainable housing. With an election happening in October, it’s clear that candidates need to be focused on housing.”

Residents want more action on housing

The research shows housing affordability will likely be a major issue for voters heading into the 2026 municipal election. More than three-quarters of residents (77 per cent) say housing in Ottawa is unaffordable, while only five per cent believe housing is affordable today. Over the past year, 51 per cent say affordability for homebuyers has worsened, and 59 per cent say affordability for renters has declined even as rents have begun to come down, highlighting continuing pressure across both ownership and rental markets.

Housing is also set to play a decisive role at the ballot box. Eighty-two per cent of residents say housing-related issues will be important in determining who they support in the 2026 municipal election, underscoring the central role housing policy will play in shaping the next council’s agenda.

The survey also highlights how rising housing costs are reshaping long-term housing decisions for Ottawa residents. Among homeowners, nearly one in four (24 per cent) say they plan to give or pass their home on to their children or family members, rather than sell it on the open market. These findings underscore the growing concern that housing has become increasingly difficult to afford for the next generation, with intergenerational transfers seen by many families as one of the few remaining pathways to homeownership.

“For many families, housing affordability has become a generational issue,” said Nicole Christy, CEO of OREB. “Parents are passing up the opportunity to add tens of thousands of dollars to their retirement savings so that their kids have a shot at the Canadian dream. Homeownership should be attainable for everyone, not just those whose parents can afford it.”

Transit and other issues

Beyond housing, the survey highlights a range of issues shaping voter priorities heading into 2026. Public safety, homelessness, and downtown conditions remain key concerns, with 76 per cent of Ottawa residents saying they are concerned about the future of downtown, including vacancies, safety, and economic activity. Confidence in major city projects is also mixed. More residents oppose Lansdowne 2.0 (37 per cent) than support it (27 per cent), and 43 per cent view the project as an unnecessary financial burden, reflecting sensitivity to large-scale spending decisions.

Transit reliability continues to be a major issue, with 37 per cent identifying it as a priority for candidates in the 2026 municipal election, and reliability and service disruptions cited as the top problems facing OC Transpo. At the same time, voters remain cautious about municipal finances. Forty-three per cent of residents say they would prefer to keep taxes as low as possible, even if services do not improve, signalling limited appetite for tax increases and a strong focus on value for money.

About the survey

The Ottawa Real Estate Board–Abacus Data State of Housing Survey was conducted from Dec. 10 to 22, 2025, among 1,000 residents of the City of Ottawa. Results are accurate to within plus or minus 2.77 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About the Ottawa Real Estate Board

The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) is a non-profit association representing more than 4,000 member REALTORS® in the National Capital Region. OREB advocates for policies that promote housing affordability, protect consumers, and support a fair and efficient real estate marketplace.

Media contact

Melanie Coulson
Director of Strategic Communications & Engagement
613-225-2240 ext. 247| melanie@oreb.ca