Starlight Investments is proud to be Canada’s largest provider of purpose-built multi-family residential rental housing and one of the country’s most active developers. Howard Paskowitz, Starlight’s Vice-President of Development and Public Affairs says, “Starlight is deeply committed to increasing the supply of purpose-built rental housing in Ontario because we want to do everything we can to address the ongoing housing crisis. Whether it’s preserving our aging rental stock through structural improvements or creating brand-new, multi-family residential suites, our focus is always on quality, community, and sustainability.”
Ontario’s Housing Crisis: How Did We Get Here?
The severity of Ontario’s housing crunch is most evident in the GTA – a staggering 87% of purpose-built rental apartments in the GTA were built before 1980. That’s over four decades with minimal housing supply added to meet the growing demand.
The chronic undersupply has created an imbalance, fuelling a shortage of rental options across the entire housing spectrum – from entry-level suites to family-sized homes.
Bridging the Gap with Government Incentives
With the introduction of incentives by the government, Starlight is able to construct more rental communities, faster. The removal of the GST by the federal government on new rental construction, the Apartment Construction Loan Program, and the Housing Accelerator Fund have opened the door to more cost-effective development and has allowed Starlight to begin construction on additional new purpose-built rental projects.
Add to that, ongoing discussions across municipal, provincial, and federal levels about reducing development charges. Paskowitz says, “The housing-enabling infrastructure is still being built, but it’s not placing all the burden on developers who are trying to build housing.” Starlight has been actively collaborating with local governments and says the City of Mississauga, for example, has introduced an innovative approach to reducing development charges. Starlight’s representatives have sat on the Mayor’s Housing Advisory Task Force, and the company has various development projects currently underway in Mississauga.
Ontario Government’s Push for More Homes
Under Premier Doug Ford’s government, housing has become a centrepiece of the provincial agenda, with the Premier himself declaring it his “number one priority”. Paskowitz says, “We are certainly very encouraged by the positive construction measures that we’ve seen outlined by the Ontario government, including in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s latest legislation Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025.”
The measures include:
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Standardizing development study requirements across the province so developers know ahead of time what is going to be expected of them.
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Working with municipalities to reduce development charges.
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Accelerating Transit-Oriented Community projects.
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A commitment to putting over $2 billion more to help build new homes. There is nearly $1.3 billion towards the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and $1 billion for the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.
Starlight is encouraged by these provincial initiatives. Paskowitz says, “All three levels of government are key, but the provincial government has the ability to effect significant change, and we applaud them for doing so. We’re happy to partner with the provincial government when those opportunities arise.”
From Vision to Action: Ontario’s Path to More Homes and Vibrant Communities
Starlight Investments has recommendations for all levels of government, but there are steps the provincial government can take to speed up housing construction. These include:
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Development Charge Reform: Rising costs and high development charges for developers are an obstacle to building the new housing that Ontario desperately needs. These charges also prevent the development of existing or under-utilized properties into new housing: the costs typically outweigh the property’s current value. Paskowitz urges all stakeholders to come together and work collaboratively to develop a better approach, so the housing enabling infrastructure is built while also creating more housing. He says, “We’re seeing tremendous strides by some municipalities such as Mississauga, Vaughan, and the City of Toronto in finding solutions to high development charge costs.”
In some cases, municipalities are waiving development charges for 3-bedroom suites to encourage the supply of new, family-sized housing. In other cases, development charges are being reduced or waived to build affordable housing. Paskowitz says, “These are great ways to encourage the building of these types of housing; however, much more is needed to address the full scale of the housing crisis. As it stands, the full cost of these projects often outweighs their value, ultimately providing little incentive for developers. To truly move the needle, similar rebates need to be offered, across the board.”
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Landlord and Tenant Board Reforms: In addition to the progress that the Ontario government has already made with the Landlord and Tenant Board, Paskowitz says, “We believe there is an urgent need for further reforms to address significant administrative delays. In some cases, property owners are forced to wait years for resolutions, particularly when facing residents who withhold rent and use procedural gaps in the system. This could be prevented by streamlining the administrative process within the Landlord and Tenant Board and allowing increased focus on constructively addressing the housing crisis while promoting fair, effective outcomes for both property owners and residents.”
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The Above Guideline Increase Process: Many older purpose-built rental apartments need significant structural and infrastructure improvements. Paskowitz says, “The Above Guideline Increase (AGI) process encourages property owners to invest in their rental communities. Due to the urgent undersupply of housing, we need to focus on improving existing and aging rental apartment buildings to ensure they remain safe places for residents to call home. Unfortunately, getting necessary approvals from the government often takes longer than the execution of the capital projects themselves, discouraging property owners from investing in their buildings. We remain committed to caring for our properties through investments, also creating jobs in our communities in the process.”
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Provincial Framework on Rental Replacement: Many rental communities were built years ago and could accommodate more density. Paskowitz says, “I work on Bloor Street along a subway line and I’m looking at blocks of 2-storey buildings. How much better would it be if we could support the existing transportation infrastructure by adding density along these major transit corridors? A provincial framework would provide a predictable and streamlined process, encouraging more investment in housing development while ensuring compliance with resident protection standards. This would encourage improvements to existing rental communities and bring new, energy-efficient buildings into these neighbourhoods.”
Starlight is Driving Innovation in Housing Solutions
Starlight is dedicated to working with all levels of government to achieve their housing commitments and increase the supply of housing across Canada. Paskowitz says, “Starlight has an ambitious development pipeline, which aims to deliver thousands of rental suites over the next 10 years by leveraging government incentives, such as the move to waive the GST and provincial tax on new rental construction.”
Starlight is an industry leader and a proactive partner in tackling Ontario’s housing crisis head-on. It has been a supportive ally to the Ontario government and a collaborator with all levels of government in building the safe and high-quality homes Canadians need. Paskowitz says, “From major cities to growing communities, we’re finding innovative ways to deliver new rental housing to markets across Ontario. Starlight brings experience, creativity, and a commitment to sustainability to the table because we know real solutions come from working together. Starlight is proud to be working alongside the Ontario government to provide solutions to the housing crisis.”
How The Shoreview in Barrie is Maximizing Supply
Starlight has various rental community projects in its development pipeline designed to meet the various lifestyles of today’s renters. One of its newly completed developments, The Shoreview in Barrie, is a formidable example of an infill project – a unique solution which reimagines the use of underutilized land on residential sites to create new housing. The Shoreview is a modern rental community that seamlessly blends urban living with the natural beauty of the city’s waterfront. Paskowitz says, “We had excess, underused land where we saw an opportunity to add much-needed new rental housing. We were able to deliver a beautiful, 11-story, 215-suite community, that features a mix of spacious studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom suite layouts.”
In line with Starlight’s dedication to creating welcoming gathering spaces, The Shoreview’s residents have access to a rooftop patio with stunning views of the water. The residence features premium indoor amenities, including a fully-equipped gym, social room, pet spa, bike storage, and EV charging stations. Sustainability is a top priority for Starlight and this development is a reflection of Starlight’s commitment to creating complete communities.
The City of Barrie has been a key ally in bringing The Shoreview to life. Paskowitz says, “Barrie was a very supportive partner throughout the process and it was an honour to have the Mayor and several members of council at the ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening.” The Shoreview is a clear example of what is possible when a committed developer and a forward-thinking municipality partner to tackle the housing shortage.
As one of Canada’s most active developers of purpose-built rental housing, Starlight Investments is delivering more housing to communities – and finding meaningful ways to build those communities up.
