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When Will Ontario Deliver on its Housing Promise?
Premier Doug Ford’s housing policy has been a topic of significant discussion and debate over the past two years. His administration has made ambitious promises and taken steps to address the housing crisis in Ontario. However, the outcomes have been mixed, with successes overshadowed by significant setbacks. A key component of Premier Ford’s housing policy…
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The Other Trade War: Understanding the Ripple Effects of US-China Tariffs
While we’ve been focused on the potential 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods entering the US, we’ve ignored the 10 per cent tariff being imposed on Chinese goods. China has responded with a 15 per cent tax on certain types of coal and liquefied natural gas, along with a 10 per cent…
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Reforming Ontario’s Development Charge (DC) Framework
Development charges (DCs) are designed to allocate funding for growth-related capital projects. Their use varies across Canada, with municipalities in BC and Ontario relying more heavily on this funding. Affordability concerns have highlighted how rising DCs increase the cost of buying a new home, as these costs are built into the purchase price. In our…
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Examining 2025 Housing Market Risks: The GTA Condo Market
Historically, new construction condominiums have commanded a premium, reflecting buyer expectations of price appreciation by the time the project is completed. Four or more years ago, when buyers purchased condos slated for completion in 2025, this premium was 30–40 per cent over comparable resale units. Typically, when property values decline below the purchase price, buyers…
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Canada’s Housing Accelerator Fund – HAF-way to Nowhere
A cornerstone of the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) is to encourage municipalities to limit their development charges and encourage missing middle housing development. In response, several municipalities have amended their zoning bylaws to allow fourplexes to be built ‘as of right,’ meaning property owners have the inherent right to develop or use their…
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A Trade Overhaul – But No Tariffs Just Yet
President Trump issued a memorandum on January 20th, directing the US government to review trade policies and evaluate trade relations with China, Canada and Mexico. The executive memo instructs federal agencies to examine two key issues: the trade deficits the US has with several countries, including Canada, Mexico, and China, and the currency policies of…
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Housing Market Outlook: A New Divide Emerges
CREA recently released its updated forecast for home sales activity and average home prices for 2025 and 2026. It projects that two-and-a-half years of pent-up demand, coupled with lower borrowing rates, will drive a rebound in the housing market. However, this recovery is expected to play out differently across regions. In BC and Ontario, sales…
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