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Big housing bill arrives as Ontario hunts for faster building. The Ford government tabled the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act on March 30, 2026, with changes to official plans, the building code, transit and proposals like consulting on adding development charges to purchase agreements and removing DCs for non‑profit retirement homes. Housing Minister Rob Flack said “it all adds up” as the province tries to revive a market now projecting 276,900 starts (down from 315,000) — meaning the 1.5 million homes by 2031 target is effectively out of reach.
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Beware of World Cup scams this summer. The Canadian Anti‑Fraud Centre and police in Toronto and Vancouver warn that fraudsters are targeting ticket, rental and goods buyers ahead of the FIFA World Cup starting June 11, 2026 (48 teams; 13 matches in Canada — six in Toronto, seven in Vancouver). Watch for fake tickets, risky short‑term rentals and steeply discounted goods; authorities say pay only through official FIFA channels and report suspicious offers.
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Ottawa and Ontario pledge $8.8 billion to cut development charges by half. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford announced an $8.8B Canada–Ontario deal to give cities incentives to reduce development charges by 50% over three years to lower homebuilding costs. The plan also includes waiving HST on eligible new builds for a year and pushes municipalities to change fees so builders — and buyers — pay less.
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Top college presidents still paid roughly $500K amid layoffs. Ontario’s Sunshine List shows the five highest college presidents averaged about $507,000 in 2025, with Conestoga’s John Tibbits topping the list at $601,684 and Fleming’s Maureen Adamson at $512,428, even as colleges cut thousands of jobs after a 2024 cap on international students. In other words, head offices kept big paycheques while more than 8,000 staff and hundreds of programs have been lost across the sector.
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Cost of Premier Doug Ford’s top staff climbed 11% in 2025. The Sunshine List says 50 people in the Premier’s Office earned a combined $8.1M in 2025 (average about $162,000), a 10.9% rise vs. 2024 — far above 2025 inflation of 2.1% — drawing criticism from opposition parties during a year the province reported a $13.8B deficit. Critics say taxpayers deserve the full cost picture after alleged gaps between budget figures and the Sunshine List totals.
Ottawa Daily Digest — March 30, 2026
Source Articles (5)
Minister insists ‘it all adds up’ as Ontario tables bill with housing, transit tweaks
The new legislation includes a range of measures around official plans, the building code and a suite of highway and transit changes.
Authorities in Canada warn of fraud as FIFA World Cup approaches
Authorities are warning Canadians and visitors about fraud schemes tied to the FIFA World Cup as the tournament, hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, approaches.
Federal government, Ontario sign $8.8B deal to reduce development charges
Mark Carney and Doug Ford were among the politicians at a major event Monday morning to unveil the overhaul of how new housing and its infrastructure are paid for in Ontario.
Top paid Ontario college presidents averaged $500K each in 2025 as layoffs continue
The province's 24 publicly funded colleges have struggled significantly ever since a federal cap on the number of international students was brought in at the beginning of 2024.
Cost of Premier Doug Ford’s top staff grew by 11% in 2025
The Sunshine List shows 50 individuals in the Premier's Office earned an average of $162,000 in 2025, pushing up the total compensation to over $8 million.