For many people in the province of Ontario, the topic of housing is no longer a policy debate; it is a deeply personal one. It is the fear of another impending rent increase. It is the frustration of watching construction projects come to a complete stop. It is the fear of a surprise bill that may cause individuals to lose their homes.
Under this reality, Bill 60 emerges. It is officially known as the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025.[1] The title of the Bill crafts a story: delays are the enemy, and speed is the solution. The message from the government is clear: Ontario needs housing, and Ontario needs housing now.
Yet, beneath all the media coverage and attendant legal terminology, there are people whose lives will be impacted by these changes. In this blog, I will be discussing what exactly changes with Bill 60, why it was initially introduced, and what it implies.
Why This Bill Exists:
Ontario promises to build 1.5 million homes in the upcoming years.[2] The targets pose a critical and immediate issue: the demand for homes has exceeded their supply. Home prices have risen. Rental prices have skyrocketed. Waiting lists are lengthening.
They assume that building projects are subject to bureaucratic delays because there are a lot of approvals and changes in zoning that require months or even years of consultation.[3] Meanwhile, there have been significant backlogs in the processes of the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Bill 60 is designed to achieve that end. The rationale is obvious if you grasp the idea that by eliminating those hurdles, homes can be constructed more quickly and problems resolved more quickly. However, such housing policies are seldom that simple.
[1] Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 – Legislative Assembly of Ontario https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-60.
[2] More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022. https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1002525/more-homes-built-faster-act-2022
[3] Bill 60: Faster But Not Smarter? An Overview of Ontario’s Latest Planning Legislation. https://www.airdberlis.com/insights/publications/publication/bill-60–faster-but-not-smarter–an-overview-of-ontario-s-latest-planning-legislation
Transforming Home Construction
An interesting feature of Bill 60 is that it deals with development approvals. The law extends provincial powers to simplify some aspects of zoning regulations.[4] For example, some development projects may be able to take place without undergoing the previous level of municipal committee scrutiny.[5]
To an advocate, it seems simple: if housing is needed in Ontario, why should red tape get in the way? On the other hand, some people may not see this differently. Generally, local authorities are more sensitive to the needs of the people affected by new developments.[6] However, new developments may make the local population feel their voices are being undermined by the new authorities at the provincial level.
At the very core, this discussion is not just about efficiency; it is about trust and who should dictate how communities develop.
What It Means For Renters And Landlords
An important part of Bill 60 has to do with rental regulations. The legislation reduces the specific timelines applicable to eviction cases that arise as a result of non-payment.[7] It reduces the period within which one can apply to have their decision reviewed by the Landlord and Tenant Board. In addition, the legislation alters personal use procedures and hearing conditions.[8]
While these changes may benefit some landlords, particularly smaller landlords who count on their tenants to help make ends meet, delays in conflict resolution may eventually impose financial burdens.[9] However, for those who rent their homes, especially those who already face
[4] Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 – Legislative Assembly of Ontario https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-60
[5] Dentons Canada LLP – Alert on the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act. https://www.dentons.com/en/insights/alerts/2025/november/4/ontarios-proposed-fighting-delays-building-faster-act-2025
[6] Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) – Commentary on Bill 60. https://www.amo.on.ca/policy/land-use-planning-resources-and-climate-change/bill-60-fighting-delays-building-faster-act
[7] Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 – Legislative Assembly of Ontario https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-60
[8] Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 https://oba.org/getmedia/adc8582a-464d-434b-8cb1-7cf30d506375/OBA-Bill-60-Submission-Final.pdf
[9] Ontario Ombudsman, Administrative Justice Delayed, Fairness Denied https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/en/our-work/investigations/administrative-justice-delayed-fairness-denied
difficulties, these modifications will likely affect them more. When one fails to pay rent due to losing a job or other medical problems, every hour may count as an urgent countdown.
Housing insecurity is no abstract concept; it translates to sleepless nights of worrying about your kids’ sleeping arrangements.[10] It translates to having to make up your mind whether to pay rent or buy groceries. Efficiency may make the system more efficient, but it still affects human beings.
The Way Forward
Bill 60 is a bill imbued with urgency. You can almost read it, threaded through the text, in the need to build and to fix, to move faster than the crisis itself. It’s understandable that it would be. For many Ontarians, the pressure of housing isn’t an abstract; it’s a grind.
But laws are more than just words. They live through human experience. In the months and years ahead, the test will be equally simple: are people safer in their homes? Do renters sleep a little more soundly? When families think about the future, do they feel possibility instead of dread? For if the rate of approvals speeds up but insecurity doesn’t subside, then something essential will still be missing.
Progress in terms of housing is not simply quantified by the numbers of homes produced or how much it has reduced the construction timeline. It can also be seen in terms of how it reflects notions of dignity, equity, and trust. If Bill 60 can assist in making Ontario not just grow in terms of the construction of homes but can instill more faith within it as well, it may not just be seen as a legislative measure but perhaps something more significant.
At its essence, the concept of housing ties into the idea of belonging. As a result, any legislation associated with housing will always affect individuals’ perceptions of belonging and going home.
[10] Statistics Canada – Housing affordability data https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/housing
