Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My name is Scott Andison, and I'm the CEO of the Ontario Home Builders' Association. I appreciate the opportunity to be here to speak to Bill C-20.
Founded in 1962, the OHBA is the voice of the residential construction industry in Ontario. We represent over 4,000 member companies in the homebuilding, land development, professional renovation and professional services sector through 26 local chapters across the province. We advocate on behalf of our members to key stakeholders and to government decision-makers. We provide member benefits and training and promote innovation and professionalism across the industry.
In the province of Ontario, the residential construction industry contributes about 550,000 jobs, $40 billion in wages and $85 billion in investment to Ontario's economy, as well as thousands of small and medium-sized businesses in construction, manufacturing, trades and services. It's among the most important sectors in Ontario, both economically and socially, as the province continues to face a housing crisis. When new home construction slows, the impact extends beyond the housing industry alone. Communities lose jobs, government loses revenue and fewer homes are being built for families to create memories.
For far too long, Ontario's homebuilding industry has been on the brink. We have thousands of completed homes sitting in inventory without a buyer, and only 42,000 housing completions are expected in Ontario in 2026.
OHBA and our largest local home builder association, BILD GTA—my colleague beside me—commissioned research by Altus Group that showed that without action by government, by the end of this decade not only could housing construction dramatically fall but more than 100,000 jobs could be at risk. At the same time, the housing shortage would grow even worse, making home ownership even further out of reach for far too many families across Ontario.
Recently, the federal and provincial governments have made a flurry of housing announcements that we believe will have a demonstrable impact in addressing the housing shortage, including a real commitment to decreasing development charges and removing the HST from all newbuild homes in Ontario. We are proud of the information that we provided to government to ensure our industry received the support it needed. As the industry association representing home builders across Ontario, we know that builders are the experts and the ones who are best suited to construct the homes we need, not the government.
In my two years with the OHBA, I've been fortunate enough to visit every single chapter across our province and speak with many of these members. I've seen their sights, heard their stories and know first-hand the talents and the abilities they bring.
Our members take a piece of land, create a plan on paper and bring to life the homes and communities where people live, grow and put down roots. They ultimately deliver the housing that provides stability, security and opportunities for Canadians. What our members deliver is something that lasts for generations to come. The homes they create form the foundation of communities, and they continue to serve families well beyond the day that the keys are handed over.
What we would emphasize today is that the path forward is not for government to step into the role of the builder but for it to enable those who already do this work every day to do it better, faster and at greater scale. Our members are ready and willing to build the homes Canadians need. They have the expertise, the workforce, the supply chains and the experience to deliver. What they require is not substitution but support.
Governments play a critical role in setting the conditions for success, but the actual delivery of housing must remain in the hands of those with the demonstrated ability to execute and deliver. That means focusing on what government does best: establishing clear, consistent and predictable rules.
Builders can and will meet the government's requirements. They already build to the Ontario building code, navigate complex municipal approvals and comply with extensive regulatory frameworks across every stage of development. The issue is not the willingness or capability; the issue is clarity and consistency.
Too often requirements are layered, evolving or applied differently across jurisdictions, creating uncertainty and delays and adding to cost. When expectations are unclear or are changed midstream, projects slow down or stall altogether. In a market where timing and certainty are critical, uncertainty has real consequences for housing supply.
Engaging builders early and meaningfully in policy development leads to better results. It ensures that requirements are grounded in real-world conditions and can be implemented without unintended consequences. It also allows industry to respond quickly and efficiently once direction is set. In short, government sets the direction and industry delivers the outcome. If we get that balance right, and if we pair clear policy direction with the expertise and capacity of the private sector, we could meaningfully increase housing supply, restore confidence in the market and ensure that more Canadians have access to a place they can call home.
Thank you. I look forward to your questions.