Skip to content Skip to Navigation

Government Relations

The OAA actively monitors government activities at municipal, provincial, and federal levels, responding as needed through formal letters and other channels. Continually updated, this searchable portal houses these official correspondences, as well as related reports.


Type
Subject
Level of Government / Organization
 

Ontario is participating in a Joint Task Group to investigate provisions to allow expanded use of EMTC. British Columbia and Quebec are leading an initiative where one or more provinces amend their building codes with the same code provisions in advance of the National Construction Codes. Unlike the established Code harmonization process that Ontario has committed to, where the National Construction Codes change first and provincial codes follow, provinces that amend their codes with these proposed changes would be aligned with each other, with the expectation that the National Construction Codes will adopt the same changes in the future. No decisions have been finalized about whether Ontario will adopt changes based on these proposals.

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes. The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process. 

Publish Date: 2024/FEB/15

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to Brian Pollard, Assistant Deputy Minister of Long-term Care, to confirm that the Association and its members stand ready to provide input on using standardized designs and design elements in long-term care to help ensure that the architecture industry's expertise and feedback is captured and reflected in the final processes and products that government creates. 

Publish Date: 2024/FEB/15

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy to confirm the Association's support for Schedule 1 of Bill 157, Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023. If passed, Schedule 1 will establish a Limited Licence provision for former Licensed Technologists OAA. 

Publish Date: 2024/FEB/01

The industry group, Engineers,  Architects, and Building Officials (EABO), writes to the Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to advance recommended changes to the Building Code that may help speed up the Building Permitting Process through professional coordination.

Publish Date: 2024/JAN/30

Bill 157, Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023, is an omnibus bill that contemplates, among many legislative changes, amendments to the Architects Act. The Association has had the opportunity to closely study Schedule 1 of the Bill, and has prepared this briefing note to ensure the provincial government and members of the public have a full understanding  about the importance of this legislative change. The OAA strongly urges government to advance Schedule 1 of Bill 157. This will enable the relaunch of the longstanding OAA Technology Program, the licensing of Licensed Technologist members, and the creation of a framework for the regulation of other design professionals.

Briefing Note #1 confirms the OAA's support for Schedule 1 and provides background information, details the current situation, outlines issues and considerations, urges government to swiftly pass the proposed legislation. Briefing Note #2 addresses the difference between the former Licensed Technologist OAA licence and the AATO's Architectural Technologist title. 

In addition to reading the briefing notes, you can learn more about the background context by learning about the Court Order from earlier in the year on the OAA Website.

Publish Date: 2024/JAN/16

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes. The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process. 

Publish Date: 2023/DEC/18

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the City of Toronto's Infrastructure and Environment Committee to confirm the Association's support for the proposed Building Emissions Reporting Bylaw. 

Publish Date: 2023/NOV/23

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure, and Cultural Policy to confirm the Association's support in principle for Bill 131, Transportation for the Future Act, 2023

Publish Date: 2023/OCT/11

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-term Care, to urge government to consider evidence-based design recommendations to improve long-term care in Ontario. 

Publish Date: 2023/JUL/10

Industry group Engineers, Architects, and Building Officials (EABO) writes to the Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to advance recommended changes to the Building Code pertaining to professional coordination. 

Publish Date: 2023/JUN/29

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes.  The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process.

Publish Date: 2023/JUN/12

OAA Executive Director, Kristi Doyle, writes to Chetan Mistry, Manager of the Building Services Transformation Unit, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to request that former Licensed Technologists OAA are grandfathered into the BCIN program. 

Publish Date: 2023/JUN/06

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Hon. Doug Downey, Attorney General, to request regulatory changes to the Architects Act that will facilitate the issuance of Limited Licences by the OAA to individuals in the architectural discipline. 

Publish Date: 2023/JUN/06

Fairness Commissioner, Irwin Glasberg, writes to the OAA in response to its application for an exemption from the prohibition against requiring that person's experience be Canadian as a qualification for licensure. 

Publish Date: 2023/JUN/05

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to confirm the OAA's support in principle for the proposed Provincial Planning Statememt. 

Publish Date: 2023/MAY/31

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes.  The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process.

Publish Date: 2023/APR/27

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the City of Toronto's Planning and Housing Committee to express the Association's support for the Multiplex Study Report that the Committee is examining. 

Publish Date: 2023/APR/25

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes.  The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process.

Publish Date: 2023/MAR/30

On February 17, 2023, the OAA submitted selective comments in response to Canada Standards Association's (CSA) Public Review of CSA Z252 Volumetric Modular Construction - Guide to Compliance and Approval Processes (New Standard). The submission leveraged the experience of the OAA members, as well as providing additional clarity regarding roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in this type of project.

This new proposed Guide focuses on the inspections and approvals processes followed by the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) that evaluates the compliance of the modular building for construction and occupancy. These guidelines are intended for construction and inspection of partially or fully enclosed permanent modular buildings of any size and occupancy. The guide serves as a supplement to CSA A277 Procedures for Factory Certification of Buildings and CSA Z250 Process for Delivery of Volumetric Modular Buildings.

OAA members were also encouraged to respond to the proposed public review through the OAA News (January 20 edition) as well as the Facebook social media platform on February 7, 2023. 

Publish Date: 2023/FEB/17

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Building Transformation Services Branch in response to the consultation on future enhancements to the qualifications program for Ontario's building practitioners. 

Publish Date: 2023/FEB/06

TOP
BLOAAG banner

BLOAAG - Queen's Park Picks

Check out our  2023 Queen’s Park Picks program—a collaboration with Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) across the province who share a passion for our built environment in all its many forms.

MORE
Events banner

Events Calendar

Check out our events calendar for a wide array of online and in-person events. Also submit an event using our new online form.

MORE
Contracts banner

OAA Contract Suite

Did you know the OAA offers free contracts for its members and the general public? These downloadable standardized contracts make it easier for all to enter into fair, balanced business relationships.

MORE