When a bill is brought before a council or committee, a hearing notice is issued, inviting witnesses to register if they wish to provide input on the legislation. The committee ultimately decides which individuals to invite. I frequently submit written delegations on housing-related matters because I have a solid understanding of the issues at hand and their impact on my clients and community.
Over the years, I’ve provided input on topics such as preventing municipalities from imposing a municipal land transfer tax, improving the Landlord and Tenant Board, reducing red tape, addressing property assessments, and many other pressing issues. My contributions have often been reflected in legislative discussions, showing that thoughtful advocacy can make a difference.
In 2016, my husband informed me that my trade organization had appointed a former PC leader as its CEO. This prompted me to pay closer attention to the association’s activities and political alignment. I noticed an increasing politicization of the organization, with high-ranking conservative figures such as Brian Mulroney, George W. Bush, Boris Johnson, and Doug Ford invited to speak at events. While opposition leaders were also occasionally included, the organization’s direction seemed to align more closely with the ruling government.
When the Ford government removed rent control for new units built after November 2018, I became deeply concerned. My trade organization’s CEO had been appointed to the Housing Affordability Task Force (HATF), a body whose recommendations significantly impacted housing policy. The public was not given the opportunity to respond to the HATF report, and when it came before Waterloo Region for “receipt and file,” I registered and testified against its findings.
I grew increasingly disillusioned as my industry cheered every decision the government made, even as housing production slowed and critical issues were ignored. The organization’s alignment with government slogans, rather than challenging harmful policies, solidified my decision to advocate independently.
I began appearing in person at Queen’s Park to speak on issues such as arbitrary fines imposed without hearings, excessive decision-making powers given to registrars, and the erosion of democratic processes. After witnessing the Ontario Real Estate Association’s testimony, I stopped relying on my trade organization for advocacy altogether.
One pivotal moment came with Bill 23, the “More Homes Built Faster Act,” introduced by Steve Clark. The bill disrupted municipal revenues and failed to address the housing crisis effectively. I testified at every level of the budget process, urging the province to allocate funding for housing and compensate municipalities for lost revenue caused by the bill.
The title of my book, Seven Minutes, was chosen by my husband and reflects the constraints placed on witnesses at Queen’s Park. Historically, witnesses were given ten minutes to present, followed by twenty minutes of committee questions. This was reduced to seven minutes for presentation, with three witnesses scheduled back-to-back and committee members selectively choosing whom to question. This change stifles citizen engagement and limits meaningful dialogue on critical issues.
Despite these challenges, I continue to testify because the changes being made are regressive, and it would be irresponsible to stay silent. I will keep showing up, advocating for housing solutions and holding policymakers accountable.