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Leadership at the Limits: Cities, Costs & Compromise

Ontario’s housing crisis has forced a rethink of how municipalities fund growth. With development charges (DCs), community benefits, and infrastructure investments under increased scrutiny — and in some cases reform — mayors are navigating difficult decisions between financial sustainability, housing affordability, and long-term growth planning.

This panel brings together a group of municipal leaders from across Ontario to offer a political perspective on the future of growth funding. From high-growth cities wrestling with servicing backlogs, to mid-sized municipalities adjusting to provincial changes, these mayors will share their views on what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change. Expect candid commentary on the intersection of housing targets, budget pressures, and the need for new tools that align municipal revenues with provincial housing priorities.

Whether you’re a builder, planner, or policymaker, this conversation will provide valuable insight into how municipal leaders are balancing the books — and what that means for housing supply across the province.

Layered Landscapes: Reconciling Growth & Heritage

As Ontario’s housing crisis deepens, tension is growing between the need for new development and the imperative to protect our built heritage. Striking the right balance has never been more urgent — or more complex.

This session brings together leading planners, lawyers, developers, and policy experts to explore how heritage protection intersects with intensification, community character, and housing delivery. Panelists will unpack recent legislative and policy changes, best practices in adaptive reuse and cultural preservation, and the role of municipalities in reconciling competing objectives. If you’re navigating heritage policies or trying to unlock constrained sites, this panel will offer practical insights into where the policy is heading and how to make it work on the ground.

Power to Build: Infrastructure, Rates and the Cost of Growth

Escalating electricity, gas, and servicing costs are quickly becoming one of the most significant — and least predictable — barriers to new housing delivery. As utility rates climb and infrastructure investment lags behind housing demand, industry and energy providers alike are grappling with how to align cost recovery with growth.

This technical session brings together leaders from Ontario’s major energy and servicing providers alongside development industry voices to examine how utility costs are influencing housing feasibility. Topics will include servicing capacity constraints, the economics of system expansion, rate structures, and what coordination is needed between municipalities, utilities, and builders to keep projects viable.

Setting the Standard: Unlocking System-Wide Solutions for 2025 (Policy Committee Chairs Panel)

Leading into OHBA’s Queen’s Park Day 2025, the Association’s four policy committees came together to identify the top issues, pressures, and opportunities facing Ontario’s home building and renovation industry. Their insights have shaped OHBA’s 2025/2026 strategic policy and advocacy framework — and this session marks its official launch.

Join the Chairs of OHBA’s Development, Technical, Regulatory, and Renovator Committees, alongside OHBA Chair Mike Memme, for a candid discussion about the path forward. From recent wins to unresolved challenges, this session offers a front-row seat to the priorities that define our advocacy with government over the course of the 2025/2026 year.

Breaking Ground: Leadership at the Intersection of Housing, Policy & Innovation

This panel brings together a dynamic group of leaders who are shaping the future of Ontario’s housing and development sector. Representing diverse backgrounds in energy, planning, construction, development, and government relations, these speakers are driving change, tackling complex challenges, and delivering results across disciplines.

The conversation will explore how they’re navigating the pressures of today’s housing market, advancing bold ideas, and pushing for policy and regulatory reform in their respective spaces. With a focus on leadership, strategy, and innovation, this panel offers valuable insights for anyone working to make an impact in a rapidly evolving industry.

Moderated by OHBA’s incoming Chair who brings deep industry knowledge, this discussion highlights a powerhouse panel of professionals — all of whom happen to be women — who are setting the pace for what’s next in housing.

Rethinking Warranty: Models, Lessons & the Path Forward

Ontario’s home warranty and builder protection framework is a critical component of our housing system — but like many aspects of the industry, it’s due for thoughtful reflection and reform. While other provinces like British Columbia and Alberta have implemented distinct models that rely on regulated private insurers, Ontario continues to operate under a single-provider system. What are the trade-offs, and what could evolution look like?

This session brings together leaders from Ontario and across Canada to compare builder warranty models, highlight practical lessons, and unpack how different systems manage risk, enforcement, and consumer protection. Learn how the Western model of insurer-builder relationships works, how implementation was approached, and what the builder experience has been under these new regimes — all while reflecting on how Ontario’s system can improve to better serve both the industry and consumers.

With voices from both inside and outside the province, this conversation is about learning, questioning, and considering what might come next.

Unlocking Housing in Small-Town Ontario

Smaller and rural municipalities face a distinct set of challenges when it comes to unlocking new housing supply — from limited servicing capacity to administrative constraints, outdated policy frameworks, and inconsistent interpretations of provincial rules. These barriers often result in stagnated growth, unbuilt housing, and limited options for new residents and workforce attraction and retention.

This session will explore the unique pressures and opportunities in Ontario’s small towns and rural communities. Presentations and discussion will focus on practical solutions — including innovative use of Municipal Services Corporations (MSCs), communal servicing models, and creative rural planning strategies — as well as the structural challenges that still need to be addressed. Panelists will share on-the-ground perspectives from both the public and private sectors, offering insight into what’s working, what’s not, and what policy shifts are needed to better support growth outside major urban centres.

Then, Now & Next: Municipal Perspectives on Housing & Growth

Ontario’s planning landscape has been anything but static. From sweeping reforms to shifting housing targets and evolving provincial directives, municipalities have had to rapidly adapt — often with limited clarity and high stakes.

This panel pulls back the curtain on how senior municipal officials — past and present — have navigated these changes behind the scenes. With decades of institutional knowledge and firsthand experience, panelists will reflect on what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how local implementation is shaped by the politics and pace of provincial reform. Expect frank discussion about the realities of municipal planning under pressure — and thoughtful insights into what’s needed for the system to work better for everyone.

Respect, Risk & Readiness: Building with New Expectations

As expectations for Indigenous engagement and archaeological practice continue to evolve, Ontario’s development industry is entering a new era of responsibility. With evolving federal and provincial requirements, home builders and industry partners must better understand how to approach consultation, manage risks, and build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.

This session will explore how builders and developers can better understand and engage with Indigenous communities and knowledge holders, while navigating regulatory frameworks tied to consultation and archaeology. Attendees will hear directly about best practices in relationship-building, cultural sensitivity, and integrating Indigenous values into the planning and approvals process.

The session will begin with presentations from Indigenous leaders and professional practitioners, followed by a moderated dialogue aimed at helping the industry navigate this space with humility, transparency, and readiness, and provide insights into emerging legal frameworks, consultation protocols, and practical tools for moving projects forward in a way that builds trust and fosters long-term partnerships.

The Rental Reboot: A New Era for Builders

As Ontario’s market for new homeownership faces headwinds, more builders are exploring a strategic pivot: entering the purpose-built rental market. But making the shift isn’t simply about changing tenure — it’s about adopting an entirely different business model, investment structure, and operational mindset.

This session brings together leading developers, builders, and rental housing operators to explore what it takes to successfully make that transition. Panelists will share insights on underwriting rental projects, financing and construction considerations, long-term asset management, and how to navigate regulatory frameworks that treat rental differently. Whether you’re evaluating a shift or already mid-transition, this session will offer real-world perspectives on how to build for a different kind of demand.

Margins under Pressure: Building & Renovating through Uncertainty

With rising construction costs, tariff pressures, fluctuating interest rates, and uncertain market conditions, builders and renovators are facing complex challenges and critical decisions. This panel will deliver a high-level economic snapshot with a sharp focus on the impacts specific to Ontario’s home building and renovation sector.

Panelists will provide updated forecasts, unpack the drivers behind material and labour cost pressures, and offer strategies to manage through economic uncertainty. The discussion will also explore how renovators can position themselves for success amid a slowdown in new construction, tapping into opportunities even as broader market confidence shifts.