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Big policy Moves are Here!
Ontario cuts HST on new homes, development charges are getting slashed, and a pickleball court gets a $500K tax bill.
Today, we’re covering
💸 New Homes Just Got $130K Cheaper in Ontario
🎉 Ford & Carney Cut Development Charges by 50%
🏘️ Calgary Cuts Density Rules After Builder Pushback
🎾 Pickleball vs Property Tax
😲 WTF of The Week
Read Time: 4 minutes
💸 New Homes Just Got $130K Cheaper in Ontario
Source: Ontario
The 411: Ontario is offering a full HST rebate on new homes up to $1M.
New homes under $1M would get a full 13% HST rebate, up to $130,000
Homes from $1M to $1.5M would still get the full $130,000 rebate, with the rebate shrinking to $24,000 by $1.85M
Homes over $1.85M would keep the existing $24,000 provincial rebate
Buyers must sign with a builder between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027
Rental projects can also qualify if the purchase is signed in that window and construction was already underway before March 31, 2026
First-time buyers may also qualify for separate provincial and federal rebates if they signed between March 20, 2025 and December 31, 2030
The federal 5% portion still needs changes to the Excise Tax Act, so the full plan is not final yet
Why This Matters: This is a step in the right direction for getting more projects built. Cutting HST lowers costs and improves project economics at a time when too many deals are stuck. The real question is whether tax relief alone is enough to get builders moving again.