TRREB JOINT STATEMENT: Ontario‘s Housing Sector Calls on the Federal and Ontario Governments to Act Now with Targeted Action on Housing

TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ontario and Canada remain in the grip of a housing crisis that is increasingly defined not only by insufficient supply of the housing that is needed, but also by a decline in confidence across the housing ecosystem. While governments and industry have made meaningful progress on planning reform, funding programs, and streamlining approvals, housing delivery is still constrained by stalled demand, frozen capital, and regulatory uncertainty. As a result, tens of thousands of approved housing units across Ontario and Canada remain unbuilt, putting future supply at risk.

The underlying housing shortage has not abated. Ontario continues to face a severe lack of housing options that would allow seniors to downsize, families to move up, and younger households to enter stable ownership. These dual challenges of weak demand alongside persistent structural undersupply of family-friendly homes require coordinated, disciplined, and fiscally responsible action by both the federal and provincial governments.

As governments prepare fiscal and policy decisions, a coalition of REALTORS®, builders, trade associations, not-for-profit organizations, and rental providers from Ontario’s housing sector continues to speak with one voice, urging a renewed focus on restoring confidence and unlocking demand. The coalition is proposing a renewed push for targeted action by the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government on the following:

Federal Policy Recommendations

1. Expand the GST sales tax rebate on new homes to all buyers.
2. Modernize federal financing tools to support rental and missing middle ownership housing.
3. Restore practicality to mortgage qualification rules.
4. Amend the prohibition on foreign home buyers, with clear and enforceable guardrails.

Ontario Policy Recommendations

1. Reform development charges and improve cost transparency.
2. Expand the HST sales tax rebate on new homes to all buyers.
3. End exclusionary zoning in large municipalities.
4. Remove municipal barriers to housing delivery.

We must act now through bold measures; the time for incremental steps is behind us. The housing sector stands ready to partner with both orders of government to translate the recommendations found in our joint letter into real homes, real jobs, and lasting affordability for Canadians.

Link to joint coalition letter.

Signed:

About the Coalition 

The purpose of the Housing Advancement Coalition - a collective of leading local, provincial and federal builders, innovators, REALTORS, business groups, trade and labour associations, not-for-profit organizations and rental providers operating across residential and commercial markets – is committed to advancing housing development in the Greater Golden Horseshoe effectively, efficiently, economically and expediently. With housing momentum stalled, we are coming together as a unified voice, aligning our efforts and working together to break down the barriers that impede success in housing development.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

TRREB: media@trreb.ca
FRPO and RHC: Tony Irwin, President and CEO, tirwin@frpo.org
RESCON: Grant Cameron, Senior Director of Public Affairs, media@Rescon.com
Habitat for Humanity GTA: Johnny Keogh, Director Communications, Johnny.Keogh@habitatgta.ca
GTAA: Daryl Chong, President & CEO, dchong@gtaaonline.com
OREA: Jean-Adrien Delicano, Senior Manager, Media Relations, JeanAdrienD@orea.com      
R-LABS: Stacy Piluk, Executive Assistant, stacy.piluk@rlabs.ca
Assembly Corp.: Cammie Mulligan, Marketing Coordinator, cammiem@assemblycorp.ca
Caivan Communities: Frank Cairo, Co-Founder and CEO, Frank.Cairo@caivan.com
Terra Modular: Jonathan Nusbaum, CEO, jonathan@terramodular.com
Menkes Developments: Mimi Ng, Mimi.ng@menkes.com
Horizon Legacy: Claire Belerique, Marketing Manager, social@horizonlegacy.com
Clark Construction Management: Marlon Bray, Executive VP, mbray@clarkcm.ca
Options for Homes: Sandra Hernandez, Senior Director, Sales & Marketing, sandrah@optionsforhomes.ca
Tridel: Justin Van Dette, Senior Director of Govt Relations, JVanDette@Tridel.com
LiUNA Local 183: Jason Ottey, Director of Government Relations, jottey@liuna183.ca
RCCAO: Nadia Todorova, Executive Director, todorova@rccao.com

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.