Innovative measures are being used to meet housing demands
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Government of Ontario made the decision to include construction sites as essential workplaces. This permitted our industry to continue working on homes that were close to completion, while practising social distancing.
The reduction of construction activity — particularly where it is seasonally dependant — will have a negative impact on housing supply in an already tight market.
All municipal governments must now put the proper processes in place so that the industry can hit the ground running to meet the region’s pressing housing needs when public health officials feel that it is safe for construction to return to more normal operations.
BILD is working closely with GTA municipal governments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Industry representatives are engaged in regular calls with city officials throughout the GTA, and we have seen success in unlocking doors that were initially closed to the industry. This is imperative progress towards ensuring that we can meet the demand of new homes once normalcy returns.
Many GTA municipalities have adopted exceptional best practices, or have enhanced existing ones.
They have created new protocols to allow for online building permit application submissions, virtual inspections and construction permit issuance. Some municipalities have facilitated vital communication between the public, the industry, and committees and councils to promote important stakeholder consultations. This type of virtual public and industry consultation has allowed the approval process to continue keep the industry moving.
Most municipalities had the technical capacities prior to COVID-19 and were in positions to adapt to changing priorities. For example, city council meetings are livestreamed on their websites or
Youtube channels, keeping both the public and the industry engaged. Residents and industry groups have been encouraged to email submissions and make deputations at virtual town halls. Larger delegations have participated via telephone or by virtual conferencing. Zoom meetings have moved out boardrooms and onto construction sites — home builders are working with municipalities to schedule video inspections to ensure that new home buyers can take possession of their residences while protecting workers and the public.
Unfortunately, this type of proactive engagement is not universal to all municipalities. Housing supply and affordability will suffer in some of the GTA’s cities as a result.
The innovative measures taken by some municipal governments to continue with construction has been encouraging, and we applaud and appreciate their efforts. As we get closer to opening the economy, there are processes that can now be put into place. Municipal governments must provide some form of an online permit portal, continue with the approval processes, and continue with inspections so that the building industry can continue to make significant contributions to building communities and help rebuild the economy.
David Wilkes is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and a contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @bildgta