Thursday, February 27, 2025, is Election Day across Ontario and your chance to influence change.
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Ontario has some of the highest housing taxes in North America. For consumers, high taxes on housing make homeownership more difficult for both new buyers and existing owners. For the average homebuyer, government taxes and fees make up 35.6% of the final purchase cost of a new home.
The Barrie & District Association of Realtors® (BDAR) is dedicated to keeping our communities & 1,500 members informed by breaking down party platforms and connecting with local candidates across the Greater Simcoe County Region to discuss how their party will positively impact the Ontario housing affordability crisis.
Party Information
Progressive
Conservative Party
New Democratic
Party
Liberal Party
Green Party
Leader
Mike Schreiner
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Party Website
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Full Party Platform
Party Platforms
Breaking Down Key Points
Ontario PC
Platform Highlights
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Pledged $1.8 billion to connect everyone in the province with a primary care practitioner based on their postal code.
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Add $2 billion to a fund to pay for water and wastewater near new housing projects in Ontario municipalities.
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Put $300 million toward building new rinks, arenas, sports centres and other community projects in the province’s 444 municipalities.
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Promising to make a 5.7 cent per litre cut to provincial gas tax permanent.
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Spend $38 million on “action centres” to help people transition into other jobs if there are layoffs as a result of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods
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$40 million for “trade-impacted communities,” money set aside for municipalities particularly reliant on U.S. trade and harmed most by tariffs
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Defer provincially administered taxes on Ontario businesses by six months
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Add $1 billion to a skills development program designed to help workers retool their abilities to new careers
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​$1.5 billion would also be earmarked to “urgently expand” training and employment programs in the province
Housing Policy
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Introduce new tools to help municipalities accelerate planning processes that streamline the approvals process for new housing
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Invest $45 million towards a new Streamline Development Approval Fund to help Ontario’s largest 39 municipalities approve housing applications
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Provide additional resources to reduce backlogs at the Ontario Land Tribunal
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Introduced a 20 per cent non-resident speculation tax
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Explore the implementation of a vacant home tax
Ontario NDP
Platform Highlights
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Create a monthly grocery rebate to help families offset the rise in grocery costs
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Stop price gouging
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Recruit and support 3500 new doctors
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Spend an extra $830 million per year on school repairs and maintenance. The party says that will clear the repair backlog within 10 years.
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Pledging to hire more staff in Ontario’s schools
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​Promising to end academic streaming in schools and to “review” the funding model to ensure it takes into account higher-needs students, not just the raw number of people in a class.
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“Partner” with unions and employers to protect jobs and find new supply chains in industries that rely heavily on the U.S. The party also said it would “support” the auto sector
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Launch a Buy Ontario campaign and direct government agencies to procure locally. The party would also create a task force on the economy and support local farming by removing the cap from Ontario’s Risk Management Program.
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Implement a federal-provincial income support program.
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Plan to buy back Highway 407, if elected, and cancel tolls on the route.
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​Accelerate infrastructure projects, including transportation, to keep people employed if tariffs hit
Housing Policy
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Build 60,000 new supportive housing units to help people living in encampments find permanent housing. The cost of the plan has not been announced.
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​Take over the cost of operating homeless shelters from municipalities across Ontario while still allowing services to be coordinated locally.
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Work with the Federal Government to boost the program and help more people move out of shelter into homes, freeing up beds in the process
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Stop people from losing their homes by bringing forward real protections for renters and doubling social assistance rates
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Bring in real rent control
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Legalize more housing like fourplexes and four-storey multiplex apartments in all neighborhoods and mid-rise apartments along transit corridors as-of-right
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Limit short-term rentals to one's primary residence
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Build or acquire at least 300,000 permanently affordable rental homes in non-profit and co-op housing
Ontario Liberal
Platform Highlights
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Double the Ontario Disability Support Program and index it to inflation.
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Hire 300 special constables for transit systems around the province
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Promising to connect everyone in the province with a family doctor within four years of the election. The plan relies on educating and attracting new family doctors and modernizing family medicine, including an end to fax machines and creating evening and weekend appointments.
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​Cut the middle-class income tax bracket by 22 per cent. The party also promised to remove HST from home heating and hydro bills.
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Create a “fight tariff fund” if elected, which would give Ontario businesses lower interest rates and work to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers.
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Create a stream of funding for transit services to add safety equipment like cameras and double spending on mobile crisis intervention teams, which operate on transit systems
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Housing Policy
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The Liberal Party plans to eliminate the provincial Land Transfer Tax for first-time buyers, seniors downsizing and non-profits, as well as scrapping development charges on middle-class housing.
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Introduce phased-in rent control and promised to resolve landlord-tenant disputes within two months.
Ontario Green
Platform Highlights
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Safeguard watersheds in rural Ontario and work with Indigenous communities to conserve 30 per cent of natural areas by 2030.
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Create public sector purchasing guidelines that prioritize locally grown food and create a fund to support food and farming innovation.
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​Promised to create a tariff task force to tackle the issue.
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​Create a Protect Ontario Fund to support businesses disproportionately impacted by tariffs and work to diversify Ontario’s trade partners
Housing Policy
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Ontario Greens First-Time Homebuyers Plan would bring down costs and build 2 million homes within urban boundaries by:
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Allowing for the construction of fourplexes and four-storey buildings as of right across the province and sixplexes in cities over 500,000, and midrise buildings of up to 6-11 storeys on transit corridors and main streets;
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Removing development charges on homes, condos and apartment units under 2,000 square feet that are built within urban boundaries, and creating an Affordable Communities Fund to cover municipalities’ housing infrastructure costs; and
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Removing the Land Transfer Tax for first-time homebuyers.
Meet the Candidates
Running in the Greater Simcoe Region
Barrie-Innisfil
Andrea Khanjin
Progressive Conservative Party
Khanjin is the current MPP for Barrie-Innisfil, and serves as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Deputy Government House Leader. Before her election in 2018, Khanjin worked as a constituency assistant to a Conservative MP. Learn More
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Andrew Harrigan
New Democratic Party
Andrew Harrigan is a proud frontline worker who believes in public service as a commitment to upholding societal values and supporting communities Andrew's leadership shines in his role within OPSEU/SEFPO Local 304 and is dedicated to creating safer, more equitable communities. Andrew is a passionate advocate for workers' rights having consistently championed the voices of those he represents. Whether in the workplace or his local community, Andrew is steadfast in his mission to inspire positive, lasting change.
Dane Lee
Liberal Party
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Stephen Ciesielski
Green Party
A longtime Green supporter and former business owner, I bring decades of experience in fundraising and community engagement. A cancer survivor with a passion for the environment, I’m ready to advocate for a greener, stronger Barrie–Innisfil.
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte
Doug Downey
Progressive Conservative Party
Downey currently serves as the MPP for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte and the Attorney General of Ontario. Before politics, Downey worked as a lawyer – founding his own law firm.
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Rose Zacharias
Liberal Party
As a doctor in the Barrie, Springwater and Oro-Medonte communities with over 20 years of experience, Rose has connected with thousands of families who deserve more from their provincial government. From her time as the president of the Ontario Medical Association and experience in healthcare settings, Rose has seen first hand the failures of our healthcare system – now she’s running to be your MPP in Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte to make sure your wellbeing is the government’s top priority.
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Tim Grant
Green Party
Experienced educator, editor, and community advocate dedicated to innovative solutions and sustainable policies. Passionate about local engagement and effective transportation planning.
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Simcoe-Grey
Brian Saunderson
Progressive Conservative Party
Saunderson is the recently departed Mayor of Collingwood. Before politics, Saunderson was a lawyer for 22 years and taught at Georgian College.
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Benten Tinkler
New Democratic Party
More Information Coming Soon.
Ted Crysler
Liberal Party
Crysler is a lawyer who works in the technology and corporate/commercial law sector. He is also passionate about environmental issues.
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Allan Kuhn
Green Party
Kuhn is a long-time environmental activist who has had a long career in the not-for-profit sector. A dedicated Green Party advocate from Angus, ON, champions social and environmental equality, biodynamic farming, and community-driven solutions for a sustainable future.
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Simcoe-North
Jill Dunlop
Progressive Conservative Party
Dunlop currently serves as the MPP for Simcoe North and the Minister of Colleges and Universities. Before politics, Dunlop worked as an administrator and faculty member of Georgian College.
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Jordi Malcolm
New Democratic Party
Jordi Malcolm is a young resident of Orillia, as well as a student at the University of Ottawa studying History and Political Science. She has been active in provincial politics by working as an executive member of the University of Ottawa NDP campus club and her organization the Ottawa Young New Democrats. Jordi is a fierce advocate for better healthcare, more accessible and affordable housing, and a strong education system. She is committed to listening to her community in Orillia as well as across Simcoe North and advocating for the causes that matter to the real, working people of Ontario.
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Walter Alvarez-Bardales
Liberal Party
Hiltz is a Law and Political Science student in Orillia who is passionate about education and mental health.
Chris Carr
Green Party
a tech and innovation advocate, has worked with government on education and wildfire management. A mentor and community leader, he supports women in tech, sustainability. He values his children’s Métis heritage and the role it plays their daily lives.
Learn More
York-Simcoe
Caroline Mulroney
Progressive Conservative Party
Mulroney currently serves as the MPP for York-Simcoe and the Minister of Transportation and Francophone Affairs. Before politics, Mulroney worked in the financial services industry in the US and Canada.
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Justin Graham
New Democratic Party
More information coming soon.
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Fatima Chaudhry
Liberal Party
More information coming soon.
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Jennifer Baron
Green Party
Baron is a Georgina resident who has taught in local elementary schools for close to thirty years. She’s also taught environmental education at Nipissing University and York University. Baron has a Master’s of Education in School Leadership.
​I stand up for our environment, improve access to quality education, and strengthen our health care system.
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Voting Information
Eligibility, Registration, Ways to Vote
Eligibility
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To vote in an Ontario election, you must be:
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18 years of age or older on election day
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a Canadian citizen
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a resident of Ontario
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Registration
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Confirm, update or add your voter information to the RegisterOpens in a new tab by February 17 to receive a voter information card in the mail with information on when and where to vote. You can still vote if you're not registered. Add your information in person when you go to vote.
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Voter Information Card
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If you are on the voter's list, you will be mailed a voter information card with information about when and where you vote. Voter information cards will be on their way starting February 17.
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You can still vote if you do not receive a voter information card, Bring one piece of ID showing both your name and current residential address.
Vote Early
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By mail​
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At your returning office
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During advanced voting
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Learn more at voterinformationservices.elections.on.ca
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Vote on Election Day
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Vote at your assigned voting location from 9 AM to 9 PM on February 27.
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Find your assigned voting location on your voter information card, the Elections Ontario app, or at voterinformationservices.elections.on.ca
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Accessibility
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Elections Ontario has accessible tools and services available to you. For a full list, visit elections.on.ca/accessible-voting or call 1-888-668-8683.
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Information provided by Elections Ontario.
Learn More at elections.on.ca
Additional Resources
Hear from our Partner Organizations
Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA)
Saving the Canadian Dream of Home Ownership in Ontario
Ontario REALTORS® 2025 Platform for a Home for Everyone
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Highlights Include:
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Improving Consumer Confidence Through Expanded Protections
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Improving the efficiency of the Landlord Tenant Board
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Implemnting a more practical education for Ontario REALTORS ​
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Increase Housing Supply Across Ontario
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End Exclusionary zoning across Ontario by legalizing fourplaxes as-of-right
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Increase Density Near Transit
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Lowering the Cost of Homeownership
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Implementing a Condoization Framework for Muliplexes
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Limiting Municipal Development Charges
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OREA Report Card on Major Political Parties Housing Platforms
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OREA has ranked each of the four major political parties to see how they stack up when compared to OREA's policy recommendations in their 'A Home for Everyone' campaign, following review of their housing platforms and submitted survey responses.
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Toronto Real Estate Board: Fair Homes Taxes
Fair Taxes on Ontario Homes
Join our Campaign
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Taxes on Ontario homes are too high.
Ontario has some of the highest taxes in North America. For consumers, high taxes on housing makes homeownership more difficult for both new buyers and existing owners.
​
For the average homebuyer, government taxes and fees make up 35.6% of the final purchase cost of a new home.
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These taxes fuel scarcity and drive-up costs turning homeownership into a privilege to be taxed rather than a dream for everyone to pursue. We need to lower taxes on housing so we can build more home that families and individuals can afford.
TRREB has a Five Point Policy Plan
1. Reduce Development Charges
2. Update the Federal HST Home Rebate Program
3. Increase Municipal Transfers
4. Review Municipal Revenue Tools
5. Reduce the Land Transfer Tx on First-Time Homebuyers
