Ontario’s residential construction sector at the edge of a precipice

Subscribe Magazine + Enews Enews Subscribe Magazine + Enews ENews × Explore Information Browse by View Digital Edition Ontario’s residential construction sector at the edge of a precipice September 15, 2025  By Richard Lyall Construction Residential RESCON president Richard Lyall paints a dour picture as the residential construction sector falters in Canada’s largest province. Richard Lyall (Photo courtesy of RESCON) They say patience is a virtue, and that good things come to those who wait. Ontario’s residential construction industry has been waiting long enough. It is in a precarious position, and the time has come for the various levels of government to take serious steps to fix the problem. The industry has been battered by a perfect storm of stifling taxation, rising material costs, unpredictable market forces like tariffs, and myriad other issues that have stymied starts and sales. The fixes to the housing supply and affordability issue are painfully obvious: reduce the tax burden on new housing, cut red tape, speed up development approvals and modernize the approvals system. Advertisement Yet, there has been limited action. Various levels of government must align their activities and walk the talk. Sales taxes on new residential construction must be cut or there won’t be much of an industry left in 12 months. This will have disastrous consequences for our economy. The ripple effects are already being felt. The federal government has moved to scrap the five-per-cent ...