Government Relations

This report, commissioned by the Ontario Association of Architects, quantifies the significant contribution that architecture industry makes to the Ontario economy. The report finds that economic activity from the architecture industry's entire footprint in 2024 in Ontario totaled $186.7 billion, accounting for 17% of the province's GDP. 

Publish Date: 2024/DEC/20

This is the third edition of a series of reports commissioned by the Ontario Association of Architects to highlight the economic costs of a lengthy site plan approval process in Ontario. This report finds that the delay in in site plan approval costs the Ontario economy roughly $3.5 billion a year, up from an estimated $300-$900 million in 2018. 

Publish Date: 2024/DEC/19

To help the industry and project owners reduce schedule delays and cost escalation, the Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario (CDAO) has released a report, Impacts of Pre-Project Investment & Quality of Documents on Project Delivery Efficiencies.

Publish Date: 2022/APR/07

On April 8, 2021, the OAA hosted a member roundtable on design of long-term care homes. Attended by 15 members with more than 200 years of collective experience designing these homes, this event was an opportunity to gather insights that will inform recommendations that the OAA makes to government regarding long-term care in Ontario. 

Publish Date: 2021/APR/08

The OAA along with the other funding partners meet with the Minister to introduce the research project and get tentative commitment for a follow-up meeting sharing the results.

Publish Date: 2019/MAY/31

The OAA, accompanied by the other funding partners, meets with Minister Ballard and his staff to give a briefing on the soon-to-be-released Housing Affordability report.

Publish Date: 2019/MAY/31

A Review of the Site Plan Approval Process (commissioned by OAA) is released in the days leading up to the SPA Symposium, generating significant coverage across mainstream & industry-specific media.

PDF: oaa_spa_report_-_final.pdf

Publish Date: 2019/MAY/31

OAA identifies key architectural issues for 2014 municipal election.

PDF: 2014_10_10_-_municipal_candidate_questionnaire_final.pdf

Publish Date: 2019/MAY/31

This 2018 report updates and builds on earlier independent analysis. SPA costs for builders and end users up to $900 million annually. This negatively affects development, office rents and housing affordability.

PDF: p5727_-_site_plan_delay_study_-_oaa_site_plan_delay_study_update_-_july_....pdf

Publish Date: 2019/MAY/31

Cancea's final report on the housing affordability study commissioned by the OAA and other funders. The report takes a systems approach to understanding housing affordability crisis.

PDF: cancea_report_on_housing_affordability.pdf

Publish Date: 2019/MAY/31

The OAA and allied organizations are currently participating in research to identify the driving factors behind the current housing affordability challenges.

PDF: 2016_06_29_-_joint_letter_to_minister_ballard_june_2016_final_wo_attach.pdf

Publish Date: 2019/MAY/31

This independent report by SvN Architects + Planners Inc. explores design and regulatory opportunities to address housing affordability in Ontario.

The links below offer further resources on this important topic:

• A Review of the Site Plan Approval Process in Ontario (2013);
• Understanding the forces driving the shelter availability issue (2017); and
  
• Site Plan Delay Analysis (2018).

Publish Date: 2019/FEB/15

The Provincial Government released its new Environment and Climate Change Plan and seeks feedback and comments until January 28, 2019.

Publish Date: 2018/DEC/18

This independent report highlights the benefits of qualifications-based selection (QBS) that is routinely used in the United States and is gaining popularity in Canada.

Publish Date: 2018/OCT/26