President’s message
As we approach the end of another year, it's fitting to reflect on our progress and the challenges ahead. Throughout 2024, FRPO has remained steadfast in its mission to advocate for rental housing as vital to solving Ontario's housing crisis. Our engagement with all levels of government has been unwavering, as we continue to focus on the importance of rental housing in creating a balanced and healthy housing market.
This year, our collaboration with the Ontario government has been focused on fostering a more favourable operating environment for rental housing providers. We've advocated to accelerate processes at the Landlord and Tenant Board, recognizing efficiency is crucial for both landlords and tenants.
Our "Say Yes to Housing" campaign has gained significant momentum, as everyday Ontarians have sent more than 2,000 emails to mayors and city councils across the province. This grassroots effort underscores the public's desire to remove barriers and embrace more rental housing solutions. It's a powerful testament to our communities’ collective voice, urging decision-makers to pay heed to housing needs.
We are also proud to announce the expansion of the Certified Rental Building Program to New Brunswick, following expansions to British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. This growth shows FRPO's commitment to quality and underscores the need for high-standard rental housing across Canada.
We look forward to the upcoming FRPO MAC Awards, where we will celebrate the excellence and achievements of Ontario's professional rental housing providers. These awards recognize outstanding contributions and inspire continued innovation and dedication within the industry.
As we move into 2025, we remain committed to direct engagement with our members. We aim to advance the stories that matter most to them and their communities, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are addressed.
In closing, I am grateful for our members’ continued support and professionalism. Together, we are building a future that recognizes rental housing as essential to Ontario's housing landscape. Let's continue to work together in turning our shared vision into reality.
Tony Irwin, President and CEO, FRPO, and Interim President, CFAA
Ontario’s Economic Outlook projects housing shortfall
On October 24, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the 2024 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Building Ontario for You. The announcement included several new investments and initiatives, including a $200 taxpayer rebate, further extensions of the temporary gas tax and fuel tax rate cuts, an increase in the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, and additional funding for Learn and Stay grants for undergraduate students interested in practicing medicine. The economic statement provided an improved forecast for Ontario’s fiscal position in 2024-25, with the projected deficit being $3 billion less than what was expected in the 2024 provincial budget.
However, the minister stated that projected housing starts for the next three years have declined since the last budget. The 2024 provincial budget predicted 87,900 housing starts this year, while the fall economic statement projected only 81,300 homes for this year. This is far below the initial goal of creating 125,000 new homes in 2024. To meet its goal, the government would have to build at least 100,000 new homes per year. As per the economic statement, 2027 will see the highest number of housing starts at 95,300, which is less than what was stated in the 2024 provincial budget. The economic statement also said that homebuilders continue to face a tough economic environment.
Campaign update: Let's Build Ontario
As we close out 2024, Let's Build Ontario (LBO) continues to champion the cause for increased rental housing supply, a critical solution to Ontario's ongoing housing crisis. This year, we've refreshed our messaging and visual identity to better resonate with our audience and amplify our advocacy efforts.
New focus areas
• Accelerating LTB processing times: Our renewed focus emphasizes the urgent need to speed up processing times at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Delays at the LTB not only disrupt the lives of residents but also strain the resources of housing providers. We are committed to advocating for a streamlined process that benefits all stakeholders and contributes to a more stable rental market.
• Fresh visual identity: We've introduced a fresh visual look for LBO on our social media channels, designed to capture attention and keep our content fresh and engaging. This new aesthetic aligns with our strategic goals and helps us stand out in the crowded landscape of housing advocacy.
• Debunking misinformation: Our campaign continues to push back against misinformation surrounding the rental market. By providing clear, factual information, we aim to educate the public and policymakers about the realities of housing supply and the positive role of rental housing providers.
Looking ahead
• Showcasing success stories: As we move forward, LBO will spotlight the success stories of our members, highlighting community projects, innovative programs, and the excellent staff members who represent the modern face of Ontario's professional rental housing providers. These narratives not only celebrate achievements but also demonstrate the positive impact of rental housing on communities across the province.
• Engaging with the community: We are committed to building a stronger public profile by engaging directly with the community. Through op-eds, seminars, video interviews, and more, LBO will continue to foster relationships with media and thought leaders, ensuring our message reaches a wide audience.
For more information on Let's Build Ontario, or to get involved, visit our campaign website at letsbuildontario.ca. Together, we can continue to be the YIMBYs Ontario needs, advocating for a future where everyone has access to quality rental housing.
Member stories initiative rollout
The Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) is launching an exciting new initiative to collect and showcase positive member stories. Whether it’s a resident’s positive feedback, a community event, or a program that improves residents’ well-being, we are encouraging our members to share.
FRPO’s members play an integral role in providing safe housing and dynamic communities for countless Ontarians across the province. By spotlighting the positive efforts that members take day in and day out, we can showcase how Ontario’s professional rental housing providers work to help bring balance back to a market that continues to grapple with an availability and affordability crisis.
These stories will be featured in our quarterly newsletter and on social media. By sharing your experiences, together we’ll be able to make sure that hard work and resident engagement are recognized.
Submit your stories today and let’s celebrate the good—because every story matters!
Future events
The Canadian Certified Rental Building Program – PM Expo at The Buildings Show
December 5, 2024 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
This session explores why landlords are enthusiastically embracing the Canadian Certified Rental Building™ (CRB) Program. The speakers (Tony Irwin, President and CEO, FRPO; Deborah Cohen, President, Performance Solutions Network
Corp.; Colleen Krempulec, Managing Partner, Head of Sustainability and Brand, Hazelview; and Hero Mohtadi, Vice President, Residential Operations and Asset Management, Dream) will discuss how this program offers unparalleled value to both landlords and renters alike. Attendees will learn firsthand why the Canadian CRB Program stands out for its quality assurance in the rental housing industry while providing renters with a trusted standard for selecting their apartment homes. This session will also present how this program supports the industry’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) transformation while enhancing professionalism and service quality for rental housing consumers nationwide.
2024 FRPO MAC Awards
December 5, 2024 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The MAC Awards is the most important annual event for our members and recognizes the leaders in Ontario’s vibrant rental housing industry. We are so excited to celebrate this year’s MAC Awards in person and invite you to be part of it! This is a must-attend event for real estate and property management firms, large and small alike. The 2024 MAC Awards will be held in conjunction with the Buildings Show and PM Expo. We hope you will join us for the industry event of the year!
Find out more about these awards by visiting www.frpomacawards.com.
Past events
Special member meeting – By-law approval
November 12, 2024 9:00 am - 9:10 am
FRPO held a special meeting of its members to seek approval for an updated by-law. The bylaw has been revised to align with the Ontario Non-Profit Corporations Act, and after receiving approval from the FRPO Board, it now requires member endorsement. Advance registration was required, and voting was limited to one representative per regular voting member.
Ontario’s leading advocate for strong and stable rental housing.
FRPO is the largest association in Ontario representing those who own, manage, build and fnance residential rental properties.
For membership inquiries please contact Lynzi Michal, Director, Membership & Marketing
Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario 801-67 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1J8 416-309-8744
lmichal@frpo.org www.frpo.org
