The Residential Construction Council of Ontario

RESCON, or The Residential Construction Council of Ontario, is a prominent association representing residential builders across Ontario, Canada. Established to provide leadership and foster innovation within the industry, its core mission involves collaborating with government and various stakeholders to offer realistic solutions to the diverse challenges confronting the residential building sector. The organization maintains its headquarters in Vaughan, Ontario.

The council's activities encompass several key areas vital to the construction industry. These include managing labour relations and collective bargaining, advocating for building code reform and technical standards, promoting advancements in building science and innovation, and addressing critical issues related to labour supply, training, and education. Furthermore, RESCON actively focuses on market housing affordability and land supply, working to eliminate unnecessary costs and streamline development approvals.

Richard Lyall serves as the President of RESCON. The organization is actively involved in government relations, recently acknowledging efforts by federal and Ontario governments to support homebuilding through measures like reducing development charges and cutting bureaucratic red tape to accelerate project timelines. RESCON also hosts annual events, including its Housing Summit and Annual General Meeting, and disseminates industry news and insights through e-newsletters and blogs.

Latest updates

Ontario Housing Starts Plunge, Job Losses Mount Amid Regulatory Burden

Event summary

  • Housing starts in 34 Ontario municipalities decreased significantly in 2025, with condo apartment starts down 52% and ground-oriented housing down 43% compared to 2021-24 averages.
  • The residential construction industry experienced 46,562 fewer person-years of employment compared to the 2021-24 averages.
  • 17 of the 34 municipalities studied received an ‘F’ grade for housing performance, largely unchanged from the previous report in December 2025.
  • Development charges have reportedly increased over 5,000% in some municipalities over the past 25 years, cited as a primary driver of declining home sales.

The big picture

The RESCON report highlights a deepening crisis in Ontario’s residential construction sector, extending beyond the condo market and impacting broader employment. The findings underscore the significant impact of regulatory burdens and development charges on housing affordability and construction activity. This slowdown poses a risk to Canada’s overall economic growth, particularly given the current global economic slowdown.

What we're watching

Policy Impact
The effectiveness of recent federal-provincial agreements to eliminate sales taxes and cut development charges remains uncertain, and implementation delays could further depress the market.
Regional Divergence
While the Toronto area has borne the brunt of job losses, the worsening employment situation in other regions of Ontario suggests a broader systemic issue beyond a localized downturn.
Builder Response
How residential builders adapt to the ongoing cost pressures and reduced demand will dictate the pace of recovery and potential for innovation within the sector.
CID: 3048