GTA housing crisis recognition in 2025 may enable action in 2026

The article reports that in 2025 policymakers, industry experts and the public agreed the Greater Toronto Area housing system is unsustainable, and industry group BILD called for tax relief on new homes and permanent cuts to municipal development charges; it also notes the federal Budget 2025 included a $12.2 billion housing-related infrastructure commitment.

Last year brought broad recognition that the Greater Toronto Area's housing system is not sustainable, according to Dave Wilkes of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). The article frames 2025 as a difficult year for new-home builders, workers and prospective buyers because of rising costs to build and other charges. BILD presented policy priorities it says could help lower prices and restore supply, while noting that progress in 2025 was slow. Key points: - The article reports widespread acknowledgement in 2025 by policymakers, industry experts and the public that the status quo on housing in the GTA is unsustainable. - BILD advocates removing or lowering sales tax on new homes (expanding HST/GST exemptions beyond first-time buyers) and permanent reductions in municipal fees, especially development charges. - The piece notes the federal Budget 2025 committed $12.2 billion to housing-related infrastructure and says that funding should be used to reduce development charges in high-cost regions. Summary: The article contends that recognition of the problem in 2025 creates a foundation for possible structural changes to taxes, regulation and planning to address GTA housing costs. It says immediate policy steps advocated by industry include sales-tax changes and lower development charges, but progress to date has been slow. Undetermined at this time.