The Ontario government has introduced Bill 60, known as the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, as part of its ongoing push to tackle the province’s housing shortage and accelerate infrastructure projects.

This legislation is designed to streamline development approvals, expand the Minister’s authority over local planning decisions, and amend multiple acts that directly affect how (& how quickly) new housing is built.

We break down what’s included, what it could mean for Ontario’s housing market, and who stands to gain or lose from these proposed changes.

What’s Included in Bill 60

Below are the key elements that are most relevant to the housing and real-estate sectors:  Streamlined planning and development approvals: Bill 60 amends the Planning Act (via Schedule 10) and gives the Minister of Municipal Affairs more authority to intervene in municipal planning decisions and timelines.

Development charges and land-acquisition class: Via the Development Charges Act, 1997 (Schedule 3), a new “land acquisition class” is introduced, shifting how municipalities may charge development fees for new housing/servicing.

Infrastructure/transit acceleration: The bill includes amendments to the Highway Traffic Act (Schedule 5) and other transit‐infrastructure statutes, meant to accelerate roads, water/waste‐water, transit-oriented communities, and other servicing.

Rental regulation and the Landlord & Tenant Board (LTB): Bill 60 proposes changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (Schedule 12) and reforms to the LTB to reduce back-logs, shorten certain timelines, and adjust rules around tenancy expiry and hearings.

Regulatory review and “cutting red tape”: The government clarifies that Bill 60 continues its agenda of reducing regulatory burdens, reviewing the Ontario Building Code section-by-section, and standardizing municipal processes across the province.

Potential Benefits of Bill 60

Here are some potential advantages, especially for Niagara-based Homeowners, Developers, and Residents:

• Faster housing supply: If approvals move more quickly, new-home inventory may come to market sooner. This is helpful in a region like Niagara where tighter, affordable supply is an ongoing concern.
• Greater predictability for developers: With clearer timelines and fewer layers of municipal discretion, builders may commit more confidently. That means more projects, and more home inventory.
• Stimulus for local economy & trades: More construction activity means greater demand for trades, materials and supporting services. This can benefit local real-estate indirectly via stronger local job markets.
• Improved infrastructure alignment with housing growth: Linking housing approvals with infrastructure/transit builds may raise neighbourhood attractiveness, aiding value in emerging areas.

Potential Drawbacks of Bill 60

It’s important to highlight the trade-offs and vulnerabilities that could arise:

• Reduced local autonomy: Municipalities may have less say in planning decisions, which raises risks that local infrastructure or community character considerations get sidelined. This is especially relevant in Niagara’s smaller & more historical municipalities.
• Tenant protections under threat: The rental-sector changes have drawn strong criticism. For example, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) warns Bill 60 “erodes security of tenure and rent control”.
• Speed vs quality risk: Accelerated approvals may bring build quality or design compromises if oversight is weakened. If that’s the case, it may impact resale value, as well as buyer satisfaction.
• Risk of displacement for renters: If tenancy expiry rules allow for easier turnover or higher rents, long-term renters may face instability. This will certainly shift the rental market dynamics in the region.
• Environmental & infrastructure oversight concerns: Critics say the bill jeopardises transit and “zero-parking” housing models, and may under-cut green building standards. 

Who Benefits

Developers and builders: They’re primary beneficiaries. Quicker approvals, more certainty, potentially lower holding costs.

Home-buyers (especially new-home seekers): If supply improves, buyers may face less time waiting and perhaps more price moderation in emerging areas.

Local construction/trade industries: More projects equate to more work, which supports regional employment and economic vibrancy.

Real-estate agents: Realtors benefit from an increase in housing supply, more new-build activity to promote, and a fresh marketing story.

Who May Be Vulnerable

Tenants and renters: The biggest concern. Changes proposed related to lease expiries, eviction processes, and rent control adjustments could make renters less secure.

Municipalities (especially smaller ones): They may face pressure to accelerate decisions, align with provincial frameworks, and potentially take on higher risk or costs without full benefit.

Low-income / fixed-income households: If rental instability rises, these households are more exposed. Additionally, if build quality drops or infrastructure lag appears, they may bear the brunt.

Community/environmental advocates: With faster approvals, less public input or weaker standards may see local environmental or character issues down-prioritised.

What This Means for Niagara Region Real-Estate

Sellers: Accelerated development will impact community values, both up and down, and smaller municipalities in Niagara could see the most drastic shifts. Properties that are “approval-ready” or move-in ready could gain advantage as the process shifts.

Buyers: Be vigilant with shifting supply dynamics. More new homes may moderate competition, but also watch for build quality and infrastructure timelines.

Investors: Clearly rental-market risks and opportunities. Faster housing might ease price pressures, but rental regulation changes means carefully assessing the risks of turnover or increased costs.

Neighbourhoods: Staying alert to municipal rollout of these changes will be key. Municipalities in Niagara will interpret and apply provincial reforms differently.

Bill 60 represents a significant policy shift in how Ontario manages housing growth and urban development. Its goal to “fight delays & build faster” is hard to dispute in a province facing chronic housing concerns.

However, speed comes with trade-offs. The challenge will be ensuring that Ontario builds not only faster, but smarter. Balancing the needs of developers and new homebuyers with the rights of renters, municipalities, and communities.

Curious how Bill 60 might affect your long-term plans of buying or selling in Niagara, reach out to us at the Portfolio Realty Group.