Government Relations

In its role to regulate the practice of architecture to protect the public interest, the OAA has been monitoring the development of Bill 17 since its introduction on May 12, 2025. The Association has identified some welcome changes and also shares concerns that have been voiced by members of the profession, others in the design/construction community, and the wider public.

Among the many changes that the legislation brings about, the OAA is particularly interested in those changes related to complete application rules as well as the proposed updates to the Building Code Act. 

Publish Date: 2025/JUN/05

Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO), and the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies–Ontario (ACEC–Ontario) write to Infrastructure Ontario regarding their serious concerns with certain terms included by IO in its Supplementary Conditions to both the OAA 600 – 2021 Standard Form of Contract for Architect’s Services and the CCDC 31 – 2020 Service Contract between Owner and Consultant.

Publish Date: 2025/JUN/05

OAA President, Ted Wilson, writes to the Strategic Policy Division of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Trade and Skills Development, in response to the regulatory consultation that the Ministry put out on Bill 2. In particular, the submission confirms that the OAA believes that Canadian jurisdictions should work together to facilitate free trade and labour mobility nationally, and urges government to ensure free trade and labour mobility do not impact the protection of public safety entrusted to professional regulators, including the OAA as it relates to the practice of architecture in Ontario. 

Publish Date: 2025/JUN/04

OAA President, Ted Wilson, writes to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs to confirm that the Association supports the introduction of Bill 2, Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, 2025. The OAA believes Canadian jurisdictions should work together to facilitate free trade and labour mobility nationally; however, free trade and labour mobility should not impact the protection of public safety entrusted to regulators, including the OAA as it relates to the practice of architecture in Ontario. 

Publish Date: 2025/MAY/13

The industry group, Engineers,  Architects, and Building Officials (EABO), writes to the Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to congratulate him on his appointment as Minister and to confirm that EABO stands ready to provide input and expertise on a variety of topics related to the design and construction industry. 

Publish Date: 2025/APR/15

OAA President, Ted Wilson, writes to the Hon. Doug Downey, Attorney General, to confirm that the Association has been closely monitoring Nova Scotia's Bill 36, Free Trade and Labour Mobility within Canada Act. The Association supports the introduction of reciprocal legislation in Ontario and believes Canadian jurisdictions should work together to facilitate free trade and labour mobility; however, it strongly cautions that free trade and labour mobility should not impact the protection of public safety that has been entrusted to professional regulators. 

Publish Date: 2025/APR/07

This report, commissioned by the Ontario Association of Architects, quantifies the significant contribution that architecture industry makes to the Ontario economy. The report finds that economic activity from the architecture industry's entire footprint in 2024 in Ontario totaled $186.7 billion, accounting for 17% of the province's GDP. 

Publish Date: 2024/DEC/20

This is the third edition of a series of reports commissioned by the Ontario Association of Architects to highlight the economic costs of a lengthy site plan approval process in Ontario. This report finds that the delay in in site plan approval costs the Ontario economy roughly $3.5 billion a year, up from an estimated $300-$900 million in 2018. 

Publish Date: 2024/DEC/19

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes. The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process. 

Publish Date: 2024/DEC/16

OAA Executive Director, Kristi Doyle and PEO Director of External Relations, David Smith, write to Kamal Gogna, Chief Building Official at the City of Toronto regarding the City's renovictions by-law. 

Publish Date: 2024/NOV/21

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, in response to the consultation on the proposed initiatives affecting condominiums. In particular, the OAA strongly urges government to amend Schedule G under Section 5 of O. Reg 48/01 of the Condominium Act which an architect must complete to ensure registration of a condominium. 

Publish Date: 2024/OCT/22

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Planning and Policy Branch at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to express its support for proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 299/19 Additional Residential Units, made under the Planning Act. The Association believes that the proposed change would support the creation of more housing and advance housing affordability across Ontario. 

Publish Date: 2024/OCT/08

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes. The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process. 

Publish Date: 2024/JUL/25

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, to confirm the Association's support in principle for Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024.

Publish Date: 2024/MAY/10

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the City of Toronto's Planning and Housing Committee to express the Association's support for the Major Streets Study report that the Committee is examining. This report recommends removing barriers and expanding townhouse and small-scale apartment building permissions across the City. 

Publish Date: 2024/MAY/07

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes. The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process. 

Publish Date: 2024/APR/26

Ontario is participating in a Joint Task Group to investigate provisions to allow expanded use of EMTC. British Columbia and Quebec are leading an initiative where one or more provinces amend their building codes with the same code provisions in advance of the National Construction Codes. Unlike the established Code harmonization process that Ontario has committed to, where the National Construction Codes change first and provincial codes follow, provinces that amend their codes with these proposed changes would be aligned with each other, with the expectation that the National Construction Codes will adopt the same changes in the future. No decisions have been finalized about whether Ontario will adopt changes based on these proposals.

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), in response to the ongoing consultation on harmonization of the Ontario Building Code with the National Codes. The OAA remains steadfast in its position that energy efficiency should remain a key piece of the harmonization process. 

Publish Date: 2024/FEB/15

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to Brian Pollard, Assistant Deputy Minister of Long-term Care, to confirm that the Association and its members stand ready to provide input on using standardized designs and design elements in long-term care to help ensure that the architecture industry's expertise and feedback is captured and reflected in the final processes and products that government creates. 

Publish Date: 2024/FEB/15

OAA President, Settimo Vilardi, writes to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy to confirm the Association's support for Schedule 1 of Bill 157, Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023. If passed, Schedule 1 will establish a Limited Licence provision for former Licensed Technologists OAA. 

Publish Date: 2024/FEB/01

The industry group, Engineers,  Architects, and Building Officials (EABO), writes to the Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to advance recommended changes to the Building Code that may help speed up the Building Permitting Process through professional coordination.

Publish Date: 2024/JAN/30