Ontario's New Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025

Introduced by the Ontario government, the Fighting Delays, Build Fast Act, 2025 aims to cut through red tape and accelerate the building of homes, roads, and essential infrastructure across the province. It's designed to tackle delays in the housing sector, streamline processes, and ultimately bring more homes to market faster. While it's still a proposed bill (as of October 23, 2025), it builds on previous efforts to boost housing supply and economic growth. The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has praised it as a "transformative" step, incorporating ideas from realtors to reduce barriers and encourage development.

Key goals include:

• Streamlining Approvals: By creating consistent standards for things like parking, landscaping, and site plans, the Act could shave months off construction timelines, making it easier for builders to get shovels in the ground.

• Reducing Regulatory Burdens: A section-by-section review of the Ontario Building Code aims to eliminate outdated rules without compromising safety, lowering costs for developers and, hopefully, for buyers.

• Improving Rental Market Fairness: Changes to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) would speed up dispute resolutions, reduce backlogs, and make the system fairer for both landlords and tenants. This could encourage more investors to build rental properties, increasing options for those not ready to buy.

• Supporting Infrastructure: From faster road builds to better water services in areas like Peel Region, the Act promotes transit-oriented communities, which could benefit growing spots in Halton and Hamilton with new GO Transit connections.

How This Act Compares to Previous Housing Legislation

Ontario's housing policies have evolved over the past few years, with a series of bills aimed at addressing the province's ongoing housing crisis by reducing red tape and accelerating construction. The Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 (Bill 60) is the latest in this lineup, building directly on recent efforts while introducing some new focuses.

For context, let's look back at some key predecessors:

• More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (Bill 23): This was a major push to hit the government's goal of 1.5 million new homes by 2031. It streamlined planning approvals, reduced development charges for affordable housing, and made changes to conservation authorities to speed up permits. However, it faced criticism for weakening environmental protections and overriding municipal planning in some cases. Compared to the new Act, Bill 23 was more aggressive on land use changes, including controversial Greenbelt alterations that were later reversed.

• More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022 (Bill 109): Focused on expediting municipal approvals, this bill introduced timelines for decisions on development applications and refunded fees if deadlines weren't met. It aimed to cut bureaucratic delays but didn't go as far into infrastructure or rental reforms as the current proposal.

• Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024 (Bill 185): This continued the theme of simplification, removing barriers to student housing, allowing more "as-of-right" developments, and refining development charges. It was a refinement of earlier bills, emphasizing cost reductions for builders.

• Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17): Introduced earlier this year, this Act enhanced tools for municipalities, accelerated transit projects, and further standardized charges. The Fighting Delays Act explicitly builds on Bill 17 by expanding on development charge frameworks, as-of-right variations, and transit-oriented developments. It also draws from the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020, by extending acceleration measures to transit operations and road standards.

What sets the Fighting Delays Act apart is its heavier emphasis on the Landlord and Tenant Board reforms, such as shortening eviction notices and limiting reviews, to tackle rental market backlogs more aggressively than before. It also introduces innovative ideas like AI in approvals and a full Building Code overhaul, which weren't as prominent in prior legislation. While previous bills sparked debates over environmental impacts (e.g., Bill 23's Greenbelt issues), this one faces similar concerns from groups worried about scrapping green roof bylaws and prioritizing speed over sustainability. Overall, it's an evolution: more targeted at current bottlenecks like LTB delays and infrastructure, while continuing the red tape-cutting trend to support economic growth amid housing shortages.

How This Act Could Benefit Buyers in Hamilton, Halton, and Brantford

In our local markets, where demand often outpaces supply, this bill could be a breath of fresh air. Hamilton's real estate scene has seen steady growth, with areas like Ancaster and Waterdown attracting families for their mix of urban amenities and suburban charm. But delays in approvals have slowed new developments, keeping inventory low and prices high. With streamlined processes, we might see more townhomes, condos, and single-family houses coming online sooner, potentially stabilizing or even easing prices for first-time buyers.

Over in Halton, think Burlington and Oakville, the focus on transit-oriented development aligns perfectly with the region's expanding GO lines. Faster infrastructure builds mean better connectivity, making these areas even more appealing for commuters. And in Brantford, where affordability is a big draw, reduced building costs could translate to more entry-level homes, helping young families get a foothold in the market.

Of course, not everyone is on board. Some environmental groups argue that the Act prioritizes speed over sustainability, potentially limiting local green building standards and municipal control.

What This Means for Today's Market and Your Home Search

For buyers right now, this Act signals a shift toward a more efficient housing ecosystem. If passed, it could mean shorter wait times for new builds, more rental options to bridge the gap to ownership, and overall market stability. In Hamilton and surrounding areas, where we've seen average home prices hover around $800,000–$900,000, increased supply might help moderate that upward trend, making it easier to find properties that fit your budget.

As your go-to real estate agent in Hamilton, Ontario, I'm here to guide you through these changes. Whether you're eyeing a cozy bungalow in Brantford or a modern condo in Halton, I have the local insights and data to help you make informed decisions. Let's connect, Ian Streutker at your service for all your real estate needs in Hamilton, Halton, Brantford, and beyond. Reach out today for a no-obligation chat about the market or to start your home search!