As Ontarians prepare to cast their votes in the 2025 provincial election, housing affordability and availability remain top concerns. The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has released its Election Report Card, evaluating the housing platforms of the four major political parties. This report assesses each party’s commitments against OREA’s recommended strategies to address the ongoing housing crisis in the province.
OREA’s Housing Vision: A Home for Everyone
OREA’s A Home for Everyone plan focuses on three fundamental priorities aimed at tackling Ontario’s housing supply and affordability crisis:
1. Increasing Housing Supply
Ending exclusionary zoning to permit up to four units per lot across the province.
Increasing density near transit corridors through zoning modernization and converting commercial spaces into residential units.
Encouraging modular housing as an efficient and scalable solution to boost housing supply rapidly.
2. Lowering the Cost of Homeownership
Reducing or capping municipal development charges to make housing more affordable.
Allowing easier severance and sale of multiplex properties by creating a framework for conversion into condominiums.
Introducing incentives for first-time buyers and new pathways for innovative homeownership models.
3. Improving Consumer Protections
Strengthening the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) by reducing backlogs and restoring in-person hearings.
Eliminating the auctioneer exemption to establish a single standard for real estate transaction oversight.
Enhancing professional education for Realtors to ensure better consumer service and protection.
OREA’s Election Report Card: Evaluating Party Platforms
OREA gathered information from the four major parties through a survey and analyzed their housing platforms based on their responses and published policies. The New Democratic Party (NDP) and Ontario Liberals provided completed surveys, while the Progressive Conservative Party (PC) submitted a written response. Here’s how each party aligns with OREA’s vision:
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (PC)
The PC party’s housing platform includes initiatives to encourage modular housing through the development of housing innovation guides. These guides aim to help consumers navigate the complexities of building processes and financing options. According to OREA, this proposal supports their recommendation to promote and scale innovative housing solutions to address supply shortages.
Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP)
The NDP proposes a significant increase in affordable housing supply, legalization of fourplexes, and greater density around transit hubs. Their platform also supports:
Eliminating the auctioneer exemption to enhance real estate transaction oversight.
Restoring in-person hearings at the LTB to improve tenant and landlord dispute resolutions.
Establishing a framework for innovative co-ownership models, making it easier for multiple buyers to invest in housing together.
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party prioritizes affordability by proposing to end development charges on new homes under 3,000 square feet and eliminate the provincial land transfer tax for:
First-time homebuyers
Seniors looking to downsize
Non-profit homebuilders
OREA notes that these proposals align with their recommendation to lower the cost of homeownership, making home purchases more attainable for more Ontarians.
Green Party of Ontario
The Green Party has committed to building two million new homes over the next decade by legalizing fourplexes across Ontario. This policy is in line with OREA’s stance on ending exclusionary zoning by allowing up to four units per lot as-of-right across the province.
Housing and the 2025 Election: What’s at Stake?
As Ontario’s housing market continues to face supply shortages, rising prices, and affordability challenges, OREA’s evaluation underscores the urgency for political action. OREA President Rick Kedzior emphasized in a press release that housing is a key issue for voters, stating:
“Whether they are voting PC, NDP, Liberal, or Green, Ontarians want leaders who are willing to help people achieve the dream of homeownership, obtain more affordable housing, and break down barriers that prevent them from finding a great place to call home.”
With the election set for February 27, 2025, Ontarians will soon have the opportunity to decide which party’s vision best aligns with their housing needs. The policies put forward by each party will play a crucial role in shaping the province’s real estate market for years to come.
