Government Relations Updates
March 2025
Government Relations Updates
In like a lion, Cornerstone’s Government Relations staff have the scoop on several updates in your local communities and beyond! This month, we’re highlighting news such as:
- Norfolk County’s Draft Master Recreation Plan and Cornerstone’s efforts to stop new taxes on homes,
- The deadline to file your Vacant Unit Tax declaration in Hamilton,
- Mark Carney elected as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and;
- more!
We welcome your questions and feedback. Did we miss anything happening in your community? Please let us know: [email protected].
Federal News
Mark Carney: Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
On Sunday, March 9th, Mark Carney, former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, was elected Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada at the Liberal Leadership Convention. In the coming days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will formally tender his resignation and Mark Carney, Prime Minister-designate, will be sworn in. How soon after the federal election is called is anyone’s guess, but all signs are pointing to a spring election.
Provincial News
Return to the Pink Palace
Following the February 27th election, Premier Doug Ford is expected to return the legislature on Monday, April 14, 2025. While the ongoing tariff negotiations will take center stage, housing legislation is expected to continue to be a focal point.
City of Hamilton
Vacant Unit Tax Declaration Deadline: April 30
Did you know all residential property owners in Hamilton must complete an annual declaration regarding the occupancy status of their property by Wednesday, April 30, 2025? Failure to meet this deadline will result in the property being deemed vacant and subject to the new Vacant Unit Tax.
Despite our best efforts, the City of Hamilton approved a Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) in June 2022 to increase housing supply, following the examples of other municipalities like Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa. In this first implementation cycle, the City will levy residents who fail to complete the declaration with an additional tax of one per cent of a property’s current assessed value on any residential unit deemed vacant more than 183 days in the previous year.
For complete details and to submit your declaration online, visit hamilton.ca/VacantUnitTax or call 905-546-2573.
Please complete the following one-minute survey so that we can gauge public awareness about the VUT: CLICK HERE.
Don’t forget to tell your family, friends and clients to complete their declarations!
Transforming Downtown Roundtable Report
In November 2024, Cornerstone partnered with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and FirstOntario Credit Union to host the Transforming Downtown Roundtable series. Business leaders and stakeholders throughout the City gathered to discuss issues affecting downtown Hamilton and its future. The report produced from the roundtable series will be a critical component of the advocacy efforts of the partnered organizations as Hamilton City Council recently voted to create a 10-year Downtown Revitalization Strategy to tackle crime, homelessness, and vacancies. To view the report and recommendations, CLICK HERE.
Haldimand County
Ward 1 & Ward 4 By-Election on April 10, 2025
Residents of Haldimand County living in Ward 1 & Ward 4, are going to the election polls again. With the unfortunate passing of Marie Trainer & Stewart Patterson, Haldimand County is holding a By-Election on April 10th, 2025.
All voter resources including instructions for advance internet voting, advance in-person voting and voting day, can be found HERE.
The candidates are listed below:
Ward 1 – Candidates
- Brian Doyle
- Debera McKeen
- Alicia Phillips
Ward 4 – Candidates
- Brad Adams
- Tony Dalimonte
- Jesse Little
- Albert Marshall
Norfolk County
Sustainable Recreation Investments – Saying NO to a 2% Tax on New Homes
On Tuesday, March 11th, Drew Hemsley, Cornerstone’s Chair-Elect, presented to Norfolk County’s Council-in-Committee regarding the funding mechanisms outlined in the County’s Draft Master Recreation Plan. The report lists various means to fund the initiatives, including taxes, development charges, and potential new taxes, including a 2% tax on all new homes and a recreation tax on top of the standard land transfer tax. Drew urged council to consider alternative options such as grants, partnerships and fundraising, and to phase in the plan in alignment with current budgetary resources to not place additional burdens on residents or further make homeownership less attainable. Watch Drew’s deputation below.
Following Drew’s presentation, Ike Keesmaat, President of the Haldimand-Norfolk Home Builders’ Association, also delivered a presentation to support our efforts.
While the Committee did not vote on the Draft Master Recreation Plan at the meeting as expected, a new timeline has now been posted to the County’s Engage site. It notes that an additional public open house will take place on April 8. Following the open house, the Final Master Recreation Plan will be presented at Council-in-Committee on May 13 and to Council on May 27. Stay tuned for updates.
City of Mississauga
Renoviction By-law in Development
On April 9, 2025, the City of Mississauga will host a virtual community meeting to help shape the proposed renoviction By-law in an effort to protect tenants and promote lawful rental housing practices. The City has also launched a survey to collect feedback. The survey is open until April 16th, and it can be completed CLICK HERE.
Increasing Housing Options
To date, the City of Mississauga has introduced new housing options, including:
- Additional Residential Units – triplexes, garden suites, garage conversions and laneway suites. To learn more about ARUs, CLICK HERE.
- Fourplexes: new zoning and official plan rules to allow residents to build four units on low-rise residential lots are complete. For details, CLICK HERE.
The City is also reviewing other housing options, including:
- Semi-detached homes on smaller lots
- Multiplex permits for more than four units
- A Community Land Trust to bring land out of market and into a trust to create affordable housing options and green spaces
City of Waterloo
Inclusionary Zoning Paused & Infrastructure Investments for 4,500 Homes
Citing uncertainty in the housing market, the City of Waterloo has paused implementation of their inclusionary zoning By-law and will discuss it again in June.
The City Council has also approved $23 million in funding to prepare infrastructure for 4,500 new housing units planned in the Beaver Creek Meadows district and Erbsville North areas. To support this development, the project will convert Beaver Creek Road and Conservation Drive from rural to urban standards. Work includes installing water services, sewage systems, stormwater management, and pedestrian/cycling paths, and two new sewage pumping stations. The funding consists of $22 million from development charges and $1 million from capital reserves.
Bonus!
New CMHC Reports just released:
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