Government Relations: A Year of Advocacy and Future Directions 

Cornerstone’s inaugural Government Relations Committee travelled to Ottawa and Toronto to attend CREA and OREA’s political affairs conferences. The events included timely discussions on housing issues from notable presenters, discussions on elevating advocacy impact, and meetings with elected officials at Parliament Hill and Queen’s Park.

We successfully deployed a campaign titled ‘Homes, Not Hurdles’ in response to the City of Hamilton’s investigation into the implementation of a municipal land transfer tax (MLTT). The additional tax would have added approximately $12,000 to the purchase price of a home, in addition to the provincial land transfer tax, which is paid upfront at the time of closing. The campaign included engaging in polling research with Abacus Data, a call-to-action that garnered over 5,000 participants, media outreach including op-eds and interviews, and a social media campaign. We encouraged members to send letters to their local ward councillor, register correspondence for the council meeting, and attend the council meeting. Cornerstone’s Chair, Julie Sergi, delegated at the council meeting, along with Eddie Shepherd, Vice President of Abacus Data, to share the polling results. We engaged with local stakeholders, including the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the Hamilton and District Apartment Association, the West End Home Builders’ Association and the Hamilton Halton Construction Association to join our efforts. Thanks to the unwavering support and engagement of our members, the MLTT in Hamilton was not pursued by Council. A ‘Homes, Not Hurdles’ win!