Turning Data into Action: OnePoint Meets with Orillia Mayor to Advance Local Housing Recommendations
- 2 days ago
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MARCH 18, 2026, ORILLIA, ON — This morning, representatives from the OnePoint Association of REALTORS® met with Mayor Don McIsaac of Orillia to discuss our recent report, Building Homes, Strengthening Communities.
Housing affordability continues to be a top concern across our region. In fact, 71 percent of Simcoe North residents polled say affordability and lack of housing is the most pressing issue locally, and one quarter of young people in Ontario say they have given up on ever owning a home. That is why local action matters, and why OnePoint is bringing data and recommendations directly to municipal leaders.
Our conversation focused on practical, actionable solutions to address housing supply and affordability at the municipal level. We appreciated the Mayor’s openness to a thoughtful discussion about the opportunities and barriers facing communities like Orillia, and the role local policy can play in enabling more housing.
Joining the discussion were OnePoint President Jennifer Morley (right) and Government and External Relations (GER) Chair Mike Stahls (second from the right), who highlighted key recommendations from the report and shared insights from across the region.
While Orillia’s annual sales activity has levelled off at roughly 500 sales per year since 2022, home prices have increased significantly over the past decade, rising from approximately $280,000 in 2015 to a 2025 year-to-date average of $631,000. This disconnect underscores the importance of expanding supply and removing barriers that can slow new housing delivery.
OnePoint recognizes the strong steps Orillia has already taken. The City has updated zoning to permit up to four units per residential lot city-wide, supporting missing middle housing such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and accessory units. Orillia has also advanced affordable housing reforms through its Affordable Housing Action Plan, including reduced parking requirements for affordable housing projects and pre-zoning municipal lands for mid-rise affordable housing development. These decisions help reduce development costs and make it easier to deliver new homes.
The Building Homes, Strengthening Communities report compares local housing policies across the ten largest municipalities in OnePoint’s region against CMHC Housing Accelerator best practices, such as improving zoning, modernizing approvals, and making municipal land available for housing. Orillia stands out as a strong overall performer, particularly in zoning reform and process modernization, including e-permitting and clearer timelines that improve transparency.
Looking ahead, we discussed several recommendations that can build on Orillia’s momentum, including:
Creating a dedicated fast-track approvals lane for affordable, attainable, and purpose-built rental projects with clear service timelines
Expanding corridor and mixed-use zoning beyond the core to enable mid-rise, mixed-use development as-of-right where capacity allows
Developing pre-approved design templates for four-unit housing, paired with incentives such as small grants or fee rebates to support infill housing delivery
Today's meeting is part of OnePoint’s broader outreach effort. We are engaging with Mayors and Councils across the municipalities highlighted in the report to share our findings, foster collaboration, and advocate for policies that support housing development.
By bringing data-driven recommendations directly to local decision-makers, we aim to support informed conversations and encourage the adoption of best practices that will help increase housing supply and improve affordability across Central Ontario.
We thank Mayor McIsaac for his time and leadership, and look forward to continuing these conversations with municipal partners throughout the region.
