The Policy and Government Relations (PGR) service area of the OAA had a steady second half of 2025 with government’s return to the legislature on October 20. PGR staff were busy over the summer reviewing and responding to municipal, provincial, and federal proposals, and reassessing and prioritizing key issues and building relationships with other stakeholders and MPPs. As the legislature resumed in mid-autumn, work has continued to advance key legislative changes, including the OAA’s recommendations to fix Ontario’s broken Site Plan Approval process. Over the last six months, the PGR team also worked closely with other service areas, including the Office of the Registrar and Practice Advisory Services (PAS), to support advancements in regulatory policy, such as Architects Act modernization and Building Code harmonization.

This article summarizes some of the work accomplished for the second half of the year. For further insights into the OAA’s Policy and Government Relations work and correspondence, explore the OAA’s GR Portal.

Queen’s Park Picks 2025

PGR staff worked to finalize the Queen’s Park Picks evening reception, which took place on October 21 at Queen’s Park. The 2025 QP Picks were exhibited, and representatives (including Architects, client groups, and members of the Local Architectural Societies) from each of the nine buildings were in attendance. The event saw a similar attendance level from MPPs last year, with approximately a quarter of all MPPs in attendance. This year, formal remarks were delivered by Immediate Past President, Settimo Vilardi, the Honourable Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto-Centre), MPP Lucille Collard (Ottawa-Vanier), and Leader of the Ontario Green Party, Mike Schreiner (Guelph). With that, the OAA had formal remarks from all political stripes.

PGR staff secured three meetings with MPPs to discuss the 2024 Site Plan Approval report by Altus in order to raise awareness about the report’s findings and to continue to engage government about key policy issues in the public interest.

This year, the top nine Queen’s Park Picks for the year went live on the OAA Website the same day as the event to help garner media attention and excitement. The full selection of the 2025 Queen’s Park Picks and photos from the event can be viewed here.

Legislative Response

PGR staff continued to monitor the Legislative Assembly of Ontario following their extended summer break with a return to the legislature on October 20. As the sitting was only for seven weeks, government moved quickly to expedite the passage of bills that were tabled.

On October 23, Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, introduced a sweeping omnibus bill, Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025. Among the many changes that this sweeping omnibus bill, which passed quickly due to an expedited legislative process, brings about, it mandates:

• technical amendments to the Construction Act to clarify that annual release of holdback will no longer be accompanied by lien expiry every year;

• broad positive changes to the Planning Act such as the creation of some as-of-right variances from additional prescribed performance standards (e.g. height) on specified lands and the exemption of all Official Plan amendments that authorize residential uses on all the lands within a protected major transit station area (PMTSA) from Ministerial approval, bringing them into force more quickly; and,

• via changes to the Planning Act, that municipalities can no longer enforce green development standards at the lot level outside buildings

To read the OAA’s statement on Bill 60, click here.

Government Consultations

On June 26, PGR staff were engaged by the City of Toronto planning staff to discuss the upcoming version 5 of the Toronto Green Standard. PGR staff were consulted on any feedback received from members’ experience with the Green Standards. The City of Toronto noted it was testing interest and support levels in moving toward updated targets.

In September, the OAA, along with the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA), was contacted by the City of Toronto regarding its intent to expand the Certified Plans Program, at the direction of Mayor Olivia Chow. The expansion looks to create pre-approved designs for four-unit and six-unit buildings. The RFP was released on November 13 through the City of Toronto’s bidding platform and closed on December 9.

Progress was also made on advancing the OAA’s longstanding recommendations to reform Schedule G under the Condominium Act. In September, the PGR staff team met with staff from the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. The meeting focused on growing concerns heard from the OAA’s membership about signing the Schedule G document, especially as it pertains to building conversions from another use to condominium usage. It was a productive conversation and questions from Ministry staff were raised around liability. Advancements are steady on the file and staff continue to educate government staff on issues that impact the public interest.

On October 1, PGR staff attended a technical briefing of Bill 2, Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, 2025, which was tabled and received royal assent in the spring. included in Bill 2 is the creation of "Deemed Certification" which allows an eligible architect (and all other regulated professionals subject to FARPACTA) to practise in Ontario for up to six months while their full reciprocity application is assessed. The briefing was led by staff from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and walked attendees through the regulations for deemed certification that took effect on January 1, 2026. Details about the new class of certification can also be found under “Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, 2025” on the OAA Website.

Other Progress

As a member of the Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario (CDAO), PGR staff represent the OAA at the table. In November, the long-awaited Guide to Design and Construction Procurement Best Practices was published. This is a landmark resource developed by leaders from Ontario’s construction, design, residential, and municipal engineering sectors. The Guide provides practical recommendations for public owners to strengthen how infrastructure projects are planned, procured, and delivered. To read the Guide, click here.

To learn more about the Policy and Government Relations services area of the OAA, check out the OAA’s GR Portal.