New Report Offers the Province a Viable Path to Deliver More Homes Through Zoning and Building Code Reforms

TORONTO, October 1, 2026 – Today, the Toronto Region Board of Trade released ‘A Blueprint for Growth: Towards a New Deal for Housing’, a new report calling on the provincial government to reform zoning and the Ontario Building Code to unlock more housing. 

By 2029, Ontario is projected to fall more than 550,000 homes short of its 1.5 million-home target, making it critical to build more homes, faster. Yet, builders in Ontario must navigate hundreds of different zoning rules and approaches, adding cost, slowing construction, and making it harder to scale projects across the province. 

“Because of the ongoing trade war with the US, governments are striving to build a more self-reliant, resilient economy. Without enough housing, we risk losing the talent needed to make it happen” said Giles Gherson, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade.  

Ontario should approach municipal housing barriers much like Canada is tackling interprovincial trade barriers. More consistent rules would create a larger, more unified housing market where builders can replicate projects and deliver homes at greater scale. 

“It’s all about making an impact. The fastest approval is the one you do not need to apply for.” Added Gherson “Broader as-of-right development, clearer provincial zoning standards, and a modernized building code that makes missing middle housing easier to build is the minimum needed to meet our housing goals.” 

Ontario cannot meet its housing needs without making it easier to build, and these reforms would give builders the certainty, consistency and flexibility they need. Having adequate housing close to residents’ place of work is key to our long-term economic health, and as we navigate this political and economic inflection point, has never been more important.