Municipal Election 2026: Housing Affordability Takes Centre Stage

With less than two weeks until Ontario’s October 26 municipal elections, housing affordability, municipal taxes and the cost of building homes are emerging as defining issues in communities across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Simcoe County.

For TRREB and its almost 70,000 REALTOR® Members, the stakes are significant. The mayors and councillors elected this October will make important decisions about where homes can be built, how quickly development applications are approved, the municipal costs and taxation associated with housing and the infrastructure required to support growing communities.

Through our Removing Roadblocks advocacy campaign, TRREB is encouraging candidates across the region to commit to practical solutions that make housing more affordable, increase supply and reduce unnecessary barriers to homeownership. Here’s the latest on the municipal election campaign and how TRREB is working to ensure housing remains a priority.

GTA Municipal Election Watch: Housing, Taxes and Affordability Shape the Campaign

As election day approaches, mayoral contests in Toronto and Mississauga are attracting considerable attention, while important debates about development, municipal finances and infrastructure are unfolding in communities across the GTA and Simcoe.

Toronto: Affordability and the Municipal Land Transfer Tax in Focus

New polling suggests Toronto’s mayoral race has tightened considerably, while Mississauga remains a competitive three-way contest. Across the region, candidates are advancing competing proposals on housing development, infrastructure investment and municipal taxation.

For TRREB, the elections represent an important opportunity to reinforce the need for municipal governments to remove barriers to housing construction, reduce unnecessary costs for homebuyers and support policies that make homeownership more attainable.

Toronto: Mayoral Race Tightens as Housing Affordability Remains Central

Toronto’s mayoral contest has become increasingly competitive following Chris Alexander’s withdrawal on October 6, leaving incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Brad Bradford in a more direct contest.

The campaigns have announced several significant housing policy commitments including:

• Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT) relief on the first $1.1 million of a purchase for eligible first-time buyers and existing Toronto homeowners moving within the city
• Supporting an additional 10,000 rental homes, with at least 20% designated affordable and qualifying projects ready to begin construction within 12 months.
• Commitments to freeze or limit annual property-tax increases to no more than one percentage point above inflation.

Another notable development is increased voter participation. Toronto reported 222,550 advance voters, a 92% increase over 2022, although this does not necessarily indicate higher final turnout.

For TRREB, the campaign underscores the importance of practical housing policies that improve affordability, accelerate new construction and ensure municipalities have the infrastructure necessary to accommodate growth.

Mississauga: Competitive Race and Growing Focus on Housing Costs

Mississauga’s mayoral contest remains competitive, with former Mayor Bonnie Crombie, incumbent Mayor Carolyn Parrish and Councillor Alvin Tedjo closely positioned in recent polling, followed by Councillor Dipika Damerla.

Affordability, taxation and infrastructure investment are prominent campaign issues. Candidates have expressed differing positions on the proposed redevelopment of downtown civic lands and permitting six-plexes as of right on certain arterial roads.

TRREB and the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® Host Mississauga Mayoral Debate: Candidates Reject New Land Transfer Tax

On October 5, TRREB partnered with the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® to host a member-exclusive Mississauga Mayoral Candidates’ Debate at the Mississauga Convention Centre.

Moderated by CP24 anchor and reporter Jee-Yun Lee, the event brought together three leading mayoral candidates including Bonnie Crombie, Dipika Damerla and Alvin Tedjo, for a policy-focused discussion about Mississauga’s future. Incumbent Carolyn Parrish was also invited, but she couldn’t attend.

The discussion covered several issues central to TRREB’s Removing Roadblocks campaign, including increasing housing choice, accelerating development approvals, reducing the cost of building new homes, managing development charges and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth.

A Significant Commitment on the Municipal Land Transfer Tax

One of the most important takeaways from the debate was that all three participating candidates indicated their opposition to pursuing a MLTT in Mississauga. This represents an important point of agreement on an issue TRREB has consistently raised with municipal and provincial decision-makers.

TRREB believes municipalities should be working to reduce the costs associated with homeownership, not introducing additional taxes on housing transactions. The candidates’ opposition to a new MLTT is an encouraging signal that housing affordability and the financial pressures facing buyers are being taken seriously.

Across the GTA: Local Decisions Will Shape Housing Supply

Beyond Toronto and Mississauga, several important municipal issues are emerging:

• Brampton and Peel Region: Development charges and the future of regional housing-cost relief remain important considerations. Maintaining incentives to support new housing construction while funding growth-related infrastructure will be critical.

Oakville and Halton Region: Debate over the Midtown Oakville growth plan continues to highlight tensions surrounding intensification, infrastructure capacity and neighbourhood character. An October 18 mayoral forum will provide another opportunity for candidates to outline their housing and infrastructure priorities.

• York Region: Housing affordability, development charges and infrastructure planning remain central issues. Municipalities face important decisions about coordinating housing approvals with transit, water and wastewater servicing, particularly in fast-growing communities.
• Durham Region: Housing development, downtown revitalization and the pace of growth are prominent campaign themes. Oshawa’s open mayoral contest has focused on downtown safety and revitalization, while Pickering candidates have expressed differing positions on future development in northeast Pickering and Seaton.
• Barrie and Simcoe County: Housing affordability, municipal taxation and infrastructure costs are prominent campaign issues. Recent mayoral debate proposals have included delaying capital projects and increasing development charges on certain commercial and industrial developments, highlighting competing approaches to financing growth.

Across the region, the decisions made by incoming councils will have lasting implications for housing affordability, housing supply and the ability of communities to accommodate future growth.

Housing Is on the Ballot October 26

The upcoming municipal elections will help determine the future of housing affordability and supply across the GTA.

From reducing or opposing new land transfer taxes to reducing development charges, accelerating approvals and supporting more housing options, there is an opportunity for the next generation of municipal leaders to make meaningful progress.

Through Removing Roadblocks, TRREB is working to ensure these issues remain front and centre — during the election campaign and well beyond October 26.

Learn more about TRREB’s Removing Roadblocks campaign and the policy solutions we’re advocating for to improve housing affordability and supply.

And remember: Municipal Election Day is Monday, October 26, 2026. Make your voice heard and vote.