These initiatives, the Guaranteed Application Timeline Initiative, the Zoning Consistency Team and the Better Neighbourhood Program are good first steps in ensuring that the City and its homebuilders are partners in building strong communities that Ottawa residents want and deserve.

The Greater Ottawa Homebuilders’ Association represents the home building and renovation professionals in the Greater Ottawa region.  Builders, renovators, designers, trade contractors, suppliers and financial institutions are the core of the association’s membership.  In 2011, the value of new housing, residential renovation and other expenditures in Ottawa totaled $2.6 billion.

Because of the work of the everyday people who have chosen to lend their voice in support of this important initiative, a positive response has been coming from City Hall. Both Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Peter Hume have committed to specific changes that will help to improve the relationship between the industry and City Hall.

These changes included:
     •  Establishing an “Expediting Committee”
     •  Elected officials expressing positive comments about the industry and not trying to score political points at the industry’s expense
     •  Accountability measures introduced for Engineering
     •  Timely service from the legal department
     •  Competent project leads appointed to manage project files

This is great progress but more needs to be done. We need to keep telling councillors just how important this issue is and that we are paying attention. They best way you can do this is to have more people get involved. You can do this at buildingottawa.ca.

Please join the fight at buildingottawa.ca. Progress is being made and momentum has been created but to keep this going we need new people just like you to join in. With your help we can make sure City Hall is hearing the voices of home builders across Ottawa. Log on today at buildingottawa.ca

Through its activities, our industry facilitates all other forms of job-creating investment in Ottawa. People coming to and moving around in our region want high-quality homes to live in. All forms of new industrial, commercial and government services investment depend on the housing industry. Home construction, renovation and repair activities – both on- and off-site — also happen to be the second-largest single employer in Ottawa. The industry is an economic powerhouse!

The “We Build Ottawa” campaign gives builders, new homebuyers, residents and other stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about the industry and send messages of support to Ottawa’s decision makers.