Government Relations Updates - September 2025

At the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in August, Minister Gregor Robertson announced a major investment in local communities through federal funding. The Government of Canada is delivering over $748 million to Ontario and AMO this year to create communities that are stronger and more connected. The funding will support essential infrastructure projects, including public transit, water systems, local roads, and bridges. This investment aims to ensure communities can support more housing and build recreational infrastructure.

Read the full details, click here  ↱

The Bank of Canada will be making a rate announcement on September 17. Reports suggest there is a 90 per cent chance of a rate cut due to recent economic data.

Read the recent Globe & Mail article, click here  ↱

CREA has updated its FINTRAC Regime materials to reflect recent changes in the law and guidance, including new sanction reporting obligations and the requirement to ID unrepresented parties starting October 1, 2025. Updated materials are available on CREA WebForms® from September 8, 2025, with both old and new forms accessible until September 30.

Read the full details, click here  ↱

CREA submitted their pre-budget submission to the Federal government in August, ahead of the Fall budget. Their key recommendations were: Keep Pathways to Homeownership Open, Strengthen Canada’s Prefabricated Housing Industry, Encourage Medium Density Development through Building Code and Zoning Reform and Develop a Seniors Housing Strategy.  

The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) will undergo an independent audit following the news concerning iPro Realty. Cornerstone, along with several real estate boards and associations across Ontario, wrote to Minister Crawford, the Minister of Public Services Delivery and Procurement, to address these concerns.

Read the joint statement and letter to the Minister, click here  ↱

Premier Ford announced at the AMO conference that the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program will receive an additional $1.6 billion to support housing initiatives across Ontario.

Read the full news release, click here  ↱

On September 10, OREA will release a new policy report focused on achieving a fair, functional, and balanced rental housing market. The report will include 20 policy recommendations aimed at repairing the Landlord and Tenant Board and boosting rental supply.  

Ahead of the 2026 budget, the City of Burlington has announced several opportunities to provide feedback on what’s important to residents regarding the budget. Pre-Budget. Sessions are scheduled for September 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, and October 2, and the survey will be open until October 5.

Read the full details, click here  ↱

Current proposals in the Burlington new zoning bylaw project suggest triplexes and fourplexes should mainly be allowed on major streets. We will continue to monitor changes being presented in the new zoning bylaw.

For full details and engagement opportunities, click here ↱

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Business after Business at City Hall on September 17.

For full details and to register, click here ↱

The Jamesville demolition began on September 8 to make room for a new mixed-use community in Hamilton’s North End. The City of Hamilton is still waiting for a response to the request for an MZO, which would allow them to bypass the OLT to build faster. 

Election day for the Ward 8 by-election will be September 22. The advance vote will be on September 20 and 21.

For more information and to view the list of candidates, click here ↱

On July 31, the Province of Ontario and City of Hamilton announced the construction of 512 long-term care beds and more than 1,000 additional homes by Schlegel Villages and Indwell.

Read the full details and to purchase tickets, click here  ↱

Consultations are open for feedback on incentives for Additional Dwelling Units, Office to residential conversion grants, and grants for for-profit developers of affordable housing.

Read the full details, click here  ↱

The City of Kitchener is continuing consultation on Kitchener 2051 priorities through a prioritization exercise.

Read the full details and to participate, click here  ↱

The City of Kitchener was awarded $10,292,800 by the provincial government through Building Faster Fund for achieving 105 per cent of its housing target, exceeding its provincial target with 3,067 new units. 

Mark your calendars for Mayor Berry Vrbanovic’s State of the City event on October 21 at Centre in the Square at 4:30 PM.

Purchase your tickets, click here  ↱

Mississauga has voted to adopt a Coordinated Homeless Encampment Response for Peel Region, with the City of Brampton and the Town of Caledon.

Read the full details, click here  ↱

Sheridan College hosted Fourplex: 1 House 4 Homes at their Mississauga campus, where students displayed designs for fourplexes and demonstrated how gentle density can support our growing cities. MP Fares Al-Soud and Deputy Mayor John Kovac gave remarks and met with Cornerstone staff during the event.   

Norfolk County is currently considering implementing a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT). The MAT would include a 4 per cent fee on hotel stays and short-term rentals. Community consultations are currently underway. 

Read the full details, including a survey and public open house click here  ↱

The City of Waterloo is collecting feedback for two of its Housing Accelerator Fund programs. The Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition, which would help organizations purchases existing rental buildings for long-term affordable housing and the Community Planning Permit System, a tool to streamline development approvals in Uptown Waterloo and Erb Street. Feedback for the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition is ongoing and comments on the Community Planning Permit System are due by September 12. 

The City of Waterloo is going forward with a Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition (MURA) pilot program, through the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund, to enable the purchase of market rental buildings and/or units for affordable housing by not-for-profit housing providers, co-operatives and community land trusts.   

Waterloo was recently awarded $6,400,000 by the provincial government through the Building Faster Fund for achieving 129 per cent of its housing target, exceeding its provincial target with 1,333 new units. 

The provincial government has awarded funding under three streams for the Beaver Creek Road and Conservation Drive project. 

The Township of Wilmot is running a visioning session scheduled for September 23.

Read the full details and to participate, click here  ↱Read the full details, click here  ↱