The TRREB North Government Relations Committee (GRC) Working Group has been discussing a range of planning and housing policy issues impacting York Region and Simcoe County.

Key topics include provincial Official Plan reviews, provincial reforms to municipal land-use planning, minimum lot sizes, and ongoing Building Code consultations focused on reducing construction costs and improving housing feasibility.

The Working Group is also reviewing the recently enacted Better Regional Governance Act, 2026. The legislation introduces significant changes to municipal governance in Simcoe County and the Niagara Region, including the province’s authority to appoint heads of council with “strong mayor” powers. These powers allow appointed leaders to advance provincial priorities, such as housing and infrastructure projects, without requiring support from a majority of council members.

The Act also reduces the size of the Simcoe County and Niagara regional councils and gives the province the authority to establish weighted voting rules. Additionally, the province now has the power to appoint and remove regional chairs in Peel, York, Durham, Halton, Simcoe, Niagara, Waterloo, and Muskoka.

The Working Group is also assessing implications for missing middle housing following Stouffville’s approval of the ReZone and ReDesign Initiatives, the Mayor of Markham revoking the four units per lot policy, Vaughan temporarily reducing its development charges to zero, and the multi-tower high-rise project on Barrie’s waterfront.

TRREB’s Government Relations Committee will continue to monitor and engage closely with municipalities across the region and provincial policymakers to prioritize bold, meaningful actions that accelerate the right type of housing supply and expand housing choices for residents in York Region and Simcoe County.