Cornerstone Hosts Inaugural CHASE Event 

Hamilton, ON (April 2, 2026) – Last week, Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® hosted its inaugural Cornerstone Housing Action & Solutions Expo (CHASE), which brought together more than 300 members, elected officials, industry experts, and housing advocates to discuss Ontario’s current housing landscape. The event focused on practical solutions to improve housing attainability and supply across the province.  

At a time when housing accessibility remains a growing concern, the event provided a platform to examine barriers impacting development and identify practical solutions to increase supply and support homeownership.

The day opened with keynote insights from the Hon. Graydon Smith, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Shaun Cathcart, Director and Senior Economist at the Canadian Real Estate Association; David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data; and Dr. Mike Moffatt, Founding Director of the Missing Middle Initiative. Together, the speakers set a data-driven foundation for the day, highlighting the widening gap between economic growth and housing costs, shifting buyer demographics and the need for practical, scalable solutions, including “missing middle” housing and coordinated action across all levels of government.  

Before transitioning into the panel discussions, attendees enjoyed a networking lunch, along with the opportunity to explore the on-site tradeshow, which featured an Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) installation by Resimate Inc. 

Panel 1: Innovative Housing Takes Centre Stage  

Moderated by Sandra Longden, Cornerstone Director and Local Advocacy Chair  

Panelists: 

The panel highlighted ADUs as a practical solution to increasing housing supply through gentle density, while emphasizing that inconsistent municipal processes, zoning constraints, and financing limitations continue to slow adoption. Panelists underscored the need for streamlined approvals and improved alignment across municipalities to make these projects more accessible and scalable.  

Panel 2: The Policy and Politics of Housing  

Moderated by Dr. Mike Moffatt, Missing Middle Initiative 

Panelists:  

The discussion focused on the role of government in addressing the housing crisis, with panelists highlighting current actions being taken to close the gap between supply and demand. While recent measures, including the HST rebate for eligible buyers of new homes, signals progress, a key takeaway was that meaningful change requires continued collaboration across all levels of government and a shared recognition of the scale of the housing crisis to drive measurable outcomes. 

Panel 3: If We Build It, Will They Come?  

Moderated by Bill Duce, CEO, Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® 

Panelists: 

Panelists highlighted the structural barriers limiting housing supply, including red tape, rising land costs, and taxation. While recent measures such as the HST rebate were viewed as a positive step, they were characterized as a market correction rather than a long-term solution. The discussion emphasized the need for measurable government action, reduced regulatory burden, and improved coordination to support housing delivery at the scale required.  

Across all discussions, a consistent message became clear: increasing housing supply will require coordinated action, streamlined processes and impactful policies that allow for a wider range of housing options, including innovative housing solutions such as multiplexes and ADUs.