The Policy and Government Relations (PGR) service area of the OAA has had a busy start to 2024. Working collaboratively with other service areas, PGR staff has been closely monitoring the ongoing harmonization of the Ontario and National Building Codes, and advancing legislative changes related to housing supply, the Architects Act, and zoning permissions in the City of Toronto. PGR staff has also supported the Office of the Registrar to ensure compliance with recent Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act (FARPACTA) amendments, and has advanced the development of tools to enhance climate action through building design.

This article summarizes some of the work accomplished thus far this year. For further insights into the OAA’s Policy and Government Relations work and correspondence, explore the OAA’s GR Portal.

Queens Park Picks 2024

PGR staff has received 33 nominations from 29 MPPs for its 2024 Queen’s Park Picks program. To align with this year’s Conference theme, MPPs were asked to nominate a housing project in their riding. PGR will leverage PACT’s expertise to select the top nine, and looks forward to hosting the unveiling of the selections on October 22 at Queen’s Park.

Building Code Harmonization

PGR staff work collaboratively with Practice Advisory Services (PAS) team to respond to the ongoing consultations on the harmonization of Ontario’s Building Code with its National Code counterparts. In particular, the team has provided support for policy considerations related to encapsulated mass timber and have engaged the Climate Action Advisory Group for their input on elements of the consultations. Since the start of 2024, there have been two consultations, which PGR supported alongside the Climate Action Advisory Group. To read the recent submissions made to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes, click here.

Legislative Response

PGR staff has continued to monitor the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and track the progress of new legislation introduced since government’s return from their winter break. With that, the Ministry of the Attorney General tabled Bill 157, Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023, at the end of last year. The Bill contemplated amendments to the Architects Act under Schedule 1 which would introduce a limited licence class of members. The OAA supported the proposed amendments, which aimed to reinstate the former Licensed Technologists.

OAA staff provided two backgrounders to MPPs to clarify outstanding questions and why the amendments to the Act were necessary. Staff received great feedback from MPPs from both the government and the opposition. In February, the Bill was referred to the Committee on Social Policy where the OAA President had the opportunity to provide an oral deputation. Schedule 1 passed the hearing without any amendments.

 Bill 157 underwent Third Reading and has now been passed into law. The OAA is working closely with the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) to obtain the necessary amendments to Regulation 27. With the passage of this Bill (in particular, Schedule 1) into law, the regulatory foundation for the OAA to issue limited licences and reinstate the OAA Technology Program is now in place.

In May, the Minister of Legislative Affairs introduced Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024. The Bill is intended to reduce barriers to building more housing by streamlining planning approvals, removing some third-party appeals at the Ontario Land Tribunal, and removing parking minimums around Protected Major Transit Areas.

The OAA submitted comments to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs hearing, which highlighted the need to increase housing supply through urban intensification and the importance of complete communities. The comments also raised concerns about standardized design proposals and discredited the idea that design is the most time-consuming part of the planning process. The OAA continues to collaborate with government and actively looks for opportunities to support and act as a resource where possible.

OAA staff submitted a letter of support for the City of Toronto’s proposed Major Streets Study as part of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods Initiative. The Study aims to allow townhouses and six-storey small apartment buildings on Major Streets across the City as-of-right. In its submission, the OAA applauded the City’s ongoing leadership in increasing housing supply through sweeping zoning changes.

FARPACTA

In October 2023, government introduced Working for Workers Four, which makes further amendments to the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act (FARPACTA), including its Canadian Experience Requirement component. PGR staff have been providing policy support to the Office of the Registrar to ensure compliance with the new legislation. To read more on the upcoming changes to the pathway to becoming an architect, click here.

Government Consultations

In February, OAA President Settimo Vilardi wrote to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Long-Term Care in response to his memorandum regarding the introduction of standardized designs to the long-term care home sector. In this open letter, the OAA expressed concerns about the risks and challenges of standardizing long-term care home designs across Ontario given the range of climate, geologic, and socioeconomic conditions that prevail. The OAA also expressed its desire to be at the table alongside its members to provide their expertise.

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