The National Apartment Council’s (NAC) Annual General Meeting at the Ritz-Carlton in Toronto was a powerful testament to what happens when you put the right people in the room. Bringing together apartment developers, private capital, government officials, researchers, and industry leaders, the event transformed crucial conversations into a clear roadmap for the future of Canadian housing.
Canada’s purpose-built rental sector remains at a critical crossroads. Navigating high interest rates, changing demographics, and the urgent need for massive supply demands a unified, powerful voice in Ottawa. For too long, private developers built the majority of Canada’s apartments without a unified federal representative. The NAC was built to change that, aggressively rewriting how private capital and apartment developers engage with decision-makers.
A Powerful Convergence of Perspectives
Housing problems don’t get solved in silos—they require developers, government, capital, and research at the same table. That is precisely what this year’s AGM delivered, tackling economic headwinds, policy reform, capital deployment, data-driven research, and the concrete actions needed to get more housing built.
The value of the event was driven by an exceptional slate of voices, including:
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Benjamin Tal (Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC), who broke down the macroeconomic outlook and translated what it means for Canadian housing.
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Sharon Wilson-Géno (President, National Multifamily Housing Council – NMHC), who shared vital cross-border insights on the American rental market and the power of unified industry associations.
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Dr. Mike Moffatt (Founding Director, University of Ottawa’s Missing Middle Initiative), who brought invaluable research and government relations expertise to the stage.
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Senator Toni Varone, Jag Sharma, and Shawn Ewasiuk, who provided crucial legislative, operational, and policy perspectives.
Beyond macroeconomic trends, the AGM tackled vital operational realities, including business succession for multigenerational firms—highlighting the “second generation” carrying family legacies forward and driving innovation in apartment development.
From Ottawa Breakthroughs to Industry Action
The success of the AGM reflects the massive momentum the NAC has built behind the scenes. The Council has secured a permanent presence in Ottawa, meeting directly with senior policy advisors to the Ministers of Housing and Finance, Deputy Ministers, Senators, MPs, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
These interactions are already driving tangible policy conversations:
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Tax & Regulatory Reform: Prompting Finance Canada to audit unfair GST/HST assessments on developers, alongside ongoing discussions around expanding the MURB program and implementing a Canadian-style 1031 rollover.
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National Collaboration: Partnering with the Homes and Growth Coalition (alongside the Missing Middle Initiative and Canada 2020) to craft a national blueprint for housing and middle-class prosperity.
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Data-Driven Influence: Establishing regular roundtables with the CMHC and delivering a crucial Development Bottleneck Report at the request of the HUMA Committee Chair.
Turning Conversations into Progress
The central takeaway from the Ritz-Carlton is clear: The NAC is a credible, connected, and durable voice in Ottawa, and private developers are no longer navigating the future alone. The doors opened in government are yielding tangible bottom-line results, providing developers with the leverage needed to fight for tax reform, secure regulatory relief, and plan for generational growth.