OnePoint Housing Symposium Highlights Urgent Need for Housing Affordability Solutions

April 24, 2025, the OnePoint Association of REALTORS® hosted its inaugural Housing Symposium at Hawk Ridge Golf Club in Orillia. The event brought together REALTORS®, policymakers, researchers, and local leaders for a focused conversation on housing affordability and the future of homeownership in Ontario.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Nik Nanos, founder of Nanos Research, who shared the results of a new survey commissioned by OnePoint. The research, based on a telephone poll of 900 residents across the federal ridings of Simcoe North, Parry Sound–Muskoka, and Perth–Wellington, revealed a strong attachment to the region but also growing concern about affordability and access to housing.

"Younger generations may not be able to stay in the area"

The study confirmed that while most residents view their communities as ideal places to live and raise families, a majority believe that housing has become significantly less affordable in the last five years. Many are worried that younger generations may not be able to stay in the area due to rising costs.

"The data underscores the need for multi-faceted solutions"

Survey respondents identified housing affordability, healthcare, and the overall cost of living as the top issues they want governments to address. The data underscores the need for multi-faceted solutions that go beyond homeownership to include affordable rental housing, innovative construction methods, and coordinated policy efforts at all levels of government.

District of Muskoka Chair Jeff Lehman opened the symposium with remarks highlighting two key challenges in his region: the high cost to develop land and a shortage of skilled labour. He noted that these issues are hampering progress on critical housing projects, such as the renovation of aging social housing. However, he pointed to positive developments, including increased funding for trades training at Georgian College and the college’s work on emerging construction technologies like 3D printing, which could help accelerate housing development.

"Traditional construction methods are no longer sufficient"

Lehman also emphasized the importance of modernizing how homes are built in Canada, as traditional construction methods are no longer sufficient to meet growing demand. Reducing barriers such as development charges and investing in innovative, faster, and more affordable building practices are essential parts of the solution.

OnePoint President-Elect and Government + External Relations Chair, Jennifer Morley concluded the event by reaffirming the Association’s commitment to advocating for policies that ensure families can continue to live and thrive in the communities they love. She urged elected officials to recognize housing affordability as a critical and urgent priority for the region.

The symposium marked an important step forward in building collaboration among REALTORS®, local leaders, and community stakeholders. OnePoint will continue its efforts to promote housing solutions that support affordability, sustainability, and opportunity across its region.