2018 Effective Participation in the Political Process

29 LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS BILD 2018 Provincial Election Bluewater Brantford Prepared by: Chatham-Kent Ontario Home Builders’ Association Cornwall Greater Dufferin Durham Region Grey-Bruce Guelph & District Haldimand-Norfolk Haliburton County Hamilton-Halton Kingston-Frontenac Lanark-Leeds London Niagara North Bay & District Greater Ottawa Oxford County Peterborough & the Kawarthas Quinte Sarnia-Lambton Simcoe County St. Thomas-Elgin Stratford & Area Sudbury & District Thunder Bay Waterloo Region Greater Windsor office Ontario Home Builders' Association home 20 Upjohn Rd., Suite 101 North York, ON M3B 2V9 telephone 1- 800-387-0109 or 416-443-1545  [email protected] brand16@OntarioHBA  www.ohba.ca

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION: PROVINCIAL ELECTION...... 3 POLITICAL ACTION...... 5 ORGANIZING...... 5 ENGAGE LOCAL CANDIDATES...... 5 EDUCATE LOCAL CANDIDATES...... 6 TIPS FOR MEETING WITH CANDIDATES...... 7 PUTTING HOUSING ISSUES ON THE AGENDA ...... 8 WORKING WITH THE MEDIA...... 9 PRESS RELEASES...... 10 SOCIAL MEDIA...... 10 ALL CANDIDATES MEETING...... 12 RECEPTIONS OR DINNER MEETINGS...... 14 APPENDIX A: PROVINCIAL ELECTION RIDINGS...... 15 APPENDIX B: ELECTION RETURNS – KEY 2011 & 2014 PROVINCIAL STATISTICS...... 16 APPENDIX C: NAMES OF PROVINCIAL RIDINGS...... 17 APPENDIX D: SAMPLE MEDIA ADVISORY...... 18 APPENDIX E: SAMPLE ASSOCIATION BACKGROUNDER...... 19

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 1 2 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS INTRODUCTION: PROVINCIAL ELECTION

The Ontario 42nd General Election will be held on June 7, 2018. Voters across Ontario will elect Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) who will sit as their representatives in the Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park. The political party receiving the most seats in the Legislative Assembly will form the government following the election. The upcoming provincial election presents an opportunity for local associations to have an impact on the political decisions that shape their communities, sets the provincial agenda for the next four years and ultimately, directly impacts the residential construction industry.

So what can your local association do?

■ Educate your local political candidates on issues facing our industry;

■ Keep members up-to-date on party and candidate positions on key industry issues;

■ Engage with members and the broader community through social media;

■ Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – meet and dialogue with all candidates (even those candidates who don’t win will often run for other positions in future elections such as the municipal elections to be held on October 22, 2018);

■ OHBA is encouraging locals associations to create an election political action committee to engage local candidates on economic and housing issues and to establish their positions on key housing issues;

■ Vote – Remember, bad officials are elected by good citizens who did not vote.

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 3 OHBA Resources Available:

■ Housing Issues Status Report: Coming in Spring 2018;

■ Engine That Drives Ontario’s Economy;

■ OHBA Housing Issues Election Action “One Pagers”

■ OHBA 2018 Pre-Budget Submission;

■ OHBA 2017 Resolutions passed at our AGM; #MoreHomesNotPolitics campaign buildingcommunities.ca

January 2018

SUBMISSION TO Engine That Drives The Minister of Finance

29 LOCAL Ontario’s Economy ASSOCIATIONS Pre-Budget BILD 2016 Data Bluewater Brantford Consultation Submission Chatham-Kent 29 LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS Each new home built in Ontario is not only a Cornwall The Residential Construction Industry is the BILD Greater Dufferin Bluewater Engine that Drives Ontario’s Economy roof over a family but also supports job creation Durham Region Brantford Grey-Bruce Chatham-Kent and economic development. Guelph & District Cornwall Greater Dufferin Haldimand-Norfolk Haliburton County Durham Region 74,952 Housing Starts Grey-Bruce Hamilton-Halton Kingston-Frontenac Guelph & District Ontario housing starts in 2016 increased by 6.8 per cent over 2015. Haldimand-Norfolk Lanark-Leeds Starts are expected to slightly increase in 2017 and ease to below 70,000 in 2018. Haliburton County London Hamilton-Halton Niagara Kingston-Frontenac 336, 907 Jobs North Bay & District Lanark-Leeds Greater Ottawa The residential construction is one of the largest employers in the province, employing London Oxford County skilled workers, such as the trades, planning, engineering, architecture, law, and economics. Niagara Peterborough & North Bay & District the Kawarthas Greater Ottawa $56.2 Billion Value Quinte Oxford County Sarnia-Lambton Peterborough & Over the past ten years since 2007, the value of new home construction, residential reno- Simcoe County the Kawarthas vations and related impacts of construction increased by 55 per cent, representing growth St. Thomas-Elgin Quinte of $20 billion. Sarnia-Lambton Stratford & Area Simcoe County Sudbury & District St. Thomas-Elgin $19.8 Billion In Wages Thunder Bay Stratford & Area Waterloo Region Home buying purchases are reinvested back into the provincial economy, supporting tens Sudbury & District Greater Windsor of thousands of individuals and families in communities across Ontario. Over the past ten Thunder Bay Waterloo Region years, wages have grown 28%, representing growth of approximately $4 billion. Windsor-Essex � Ontario Home Builders' Association � Ontario Home Builders' Association The Ontario Home Builders’ Association is the voice of the home building, land devel- home 20 Upjohn Rd., Suite 101 home 20 Upjohn Rd., Suite 101 opment and professional renovation industry in Ontario, representing 4,000 member North York, ON M3B 2V9 � North York, ON M3B 2V9 companies organized into a network of 29 local associations across the province. 1- 800-387-0109 or 416-443-1545 � 1- 800-387-0109 or 416-443-1545  [email protected] brand16@OntarioHBA  [email protected] brand16@OntarioHBA  www.ohba.ca  www.ohba.ca

What is OHBA doing?

■ Keep an eye out for our weekly Election Watch newsletter to help keep you current on vital issues and ideas (sign up with Valerie Lam-Bentley - [email protected]);

■ OHBA Political Action Committee

■ Follow OHBA on Twitter @OntarioHBA PR campaign speaking to government and the public #MoreHomesNotPolitics

■ Provide resources including: Housing Issues, Engine That Drives Ontario’s Economy, Housing Starts Data, Issues Information and Election Action Sheets;

■ Election-related feature stories in the Ontario Home Builder magazine;

■ OHBA has met with and continues to dialogue with party leaders, MPPs and key officials at Queen’s Park to provide advice on party platforms and public policy options for the new government following the upcoming election;

■ OHBA will be hosting a pre-election “Queen’s Park” advocacy day in April 2018.

4 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS This document is intended to provide an overview of some of the general issues in a provincial election and to provide some guidance on what your local home builders’ association can do to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the election.

POLITICAL ACTION ORGANIZING

With June 7, 2018 set as the upcoming provincial election date there is a tremendous opportunity to effectively organize your local association’s activities. OHBA will provide a number of election-related resources for locals to draw upon. If your association does not already have an Election Political Action Committee (EPAC), it may be time to organize one.

The role of the EPAC is to:

■ Engage local candidates in housing specific issues; ■ Educate local candidates on the housing specific issues; ■ Establish the positions of local candidates on housing specific issues; ■ Inform local association members and the community-at-large, on the positions of the candidates on these housing specific issues.

The Chair of this committee should be politically astute, but not partisan. Remember, you want a committee that is committed to political participation – not committed to specific political candidates.

Also, take advantage of possible partnerships with other associations, it may be an opportunity to work with the local real estate board, chamber of commerce, and other business or construction associations.

ENGAGE LOCAL CANDIDATES

This is the ideal time to request a meeting to educate the candidate on those issues of importance to the local association membership.

The first step is identifying the local candidates in provincial election.

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 5 If necessary, you can contact the provincial headquarters for each party for that information:

ONTARIO LIBERAL PARTY ONTARIO PROGRESSIVE www.ontarioliberal.ca CONSERVATIVE PARTY 800-268-7250 www.ontariopc.com 800-903-6453

ONTARIO NEW DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS ONTARIO PARTY www.electionsontario.on.ca www.ontariondp.com 800-668-8683 866-390-6637

EDUCATE LOCAL CANDIDATES

Prepare a package that includes the economic impact of residential construction in your community and across the province, along with local housing specific issues. OHBA also has economic impact and other election issues materials that may be supportive in specific policy areas such as apprenticeships and the skills gap, planning and politics, climate change and market transformation, as well as inclusionary zoning. OHBA staff is available to assist locals in preparing and providing any materials to educate local candidates.

Again, this is a chance to give the candidates the local and provincial association’s position on housing specific issues. The meeting should not be used to establish the candidates’ positions on issues if they are not prepared to do so, but is an opportunity to educate and put the candidate on notice about the issues and requesting a response.

ESTABLISH THE POSITIONS OF LOCAL CANDIDATES Now that you have engaged and educated, this is the opportunity to get the answers to some of the questions and concerns the local associations and members have for the candidates.

A questionnaire is the most effective means of getting the candidates position on your specific issues.

6 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS Be sure to include questions based on the information and policy position you have already provided to the candidates.

Limit the questionnaire to a maximum of 10 questions, and always try to frame it around local issues and local examples: development charges, local infrastructure, taxation policy, urban boundary expansion, building permits and housing affordability and choice for the consumer.

INFORM LOCAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS Provide the local association membership with regular reports after meeting with candidates and share completed questionnaires. Candidates will assume that any correspondence sent to the EPAC will be shared with the membership or even posted on the association website.

TIPS FOR MEETING WITH CANDIDATES

The following advice and strategy is based on the experiences of local associations:

■ Get to business quickly and remain focused. This applies even if you know the candidate personally.

■ Be prepared to discuss the major issues of concern to your association. You do not need to make a speech, but to educate and put the candidate on notice regarding association and industry issues. In your discussion of the issue, be clear and concise.

■ Come equipped with real life examples to illustrate points you want to make. Politicians tend to relate to specifics that affect individuals.

■ Leave some “paper”. Sometimes you forget something, or run out of time. At minimum the documents should include a statement of your position on issues of concern and some local facts about the industry (Association Backgrounder, Appendix E).

■ Do not be intimidated. You probably know as much or more about the issues than the candidate, and in most cases, they will be genuinely grateful for useful information.

■ In most cases, no more than 3 or 4 people from the local should attend the meeting. The candidate will probably be alone or have an assistant, so keep the numbers balanced.

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 7 ■ Follow up with a letter on local association letterhead. A brief thank you is a courtesy and gives you an opportunity to expand on some specific point, especially if you think of the “perfect” response to a question on the way home. You never know, the candidate could be elected as your MPP or run again in the future and be your next councillor or mayor.

■ Finally, be sure to inform your membership of the outcome of your meeting with the candidates. You may decide that candidates’ views provide valuable information for association publications or press releases. Responses to the meetings are also useful for approaching candidates on housing issues once they have been elected to office and are representing your area. You now have their views on paper.

PUTTING HOUSING ISSUES ON THE AGENDA

Traditionally, health care issues and education dominant the public’s attention in provincial elections. Candidates will be focused on these issues. However, over the past couple of years the landscape has changed and housing affordability has become a major issue, especially for younger people struggling to afford their first home or cover their rent. Candidates are likely to be more receptive and interested in housing issues than any previous provincial election.

This provides a tremendous opportunity for members to engage, educate, establish and inform candidates and the association can assert itself as the authority on housing issues, and a future resource for the elected Member of Provincial Parliament.

Commenting on the larger scale issues that affect the province is useful only to a certain extent. Moreover, the development of party policy does not take place at the local level. Campaign organizations use their policy teams at the province wide scale to develop party direction on “big picture” issues. Consequently, candidates in your area will recite the party line on these issues. Discussing how these provincial policies impact the constituents within the local community will enable you to engage, educate, establish and inform.

8 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS WORKING WITH THE MEDIA

During an election the competition for media coverage is aggressive. Other issues, associations and the candidates themselves are all vying for media attention.

Here are some suggested dos and don’ts when approaching the local media

DO … ■ Contact the editor or reporter and discuss the value of covering housing policy, topics and issues for the community and their readers

■ Offer to share the responses to your questionnaires to the local paper as a source of future campaign stories and coverage

■ Offer to partner with the local paper to organize all-candidates meetings related to housing

■ Provide ample information, the better informed the reporter is, the more accurate the coverage will be

■ Speak in plain language so that people outside of the housing industry will understand

■ Take the opportunity to write an editorial piece and submit it to your local paper.

DON’T … ■ Focus efforts on larger provincial issue coverage; leave provincial coverage to the central news sources

■ Ignore or underestimate the reporter’s deadlines; return calls promptly and follow timelines

■ Try to take interviews “on the fly” – always plan what your message will be

■ Forget to frame an issue in the context of the local community

■ Forget that everything is “on record” so again, be prepared and familiar with messaging

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 9 PRESS RELEASES

Only issue a press release when there is a newsworthy story. Do not issue a press release every day, as you are trying to get the attention of a reporter or editor. A press release must capture the attention of a busy reporter, it must focus on the main point and must include all the important information in short, crisp paragraphs. Always end the release with a contact name and a telephone number.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is a great way to connect your local home builders’ association with members, the broader community and with political candidates themselves. OHBA encourages locals to think strategically about how they can utilize social media in the lead-up to and during the election campaign to engage, educate, establish and inform. A social media strategy should be focused locally, but is also an opportunity to amplify OHBA’s message more broadly along with your neighbouring local associations.

At the local level, be sure to “follow” or “friend” local candidates of all political parties on social media as they are likely to “follow” or “friend” back and will receive information from the local association. Leverage opportunities to promote the industry and what we do within the local community. Social media also provides opportunities to promote, amplify and get the word out on local issues of media stories that fit in with our association advocacy messaging.

At the provincial level, follow OHBA on Twitter @ OntarioHBA and the OHBA Facebook page. OHBA is engaged in a social media campaign #MoreHomesNotPolitics that focuses on what happens when we put politics ahead of housing supply and good planning decisions.

10 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS We encourage locals to “retweet” OHBA tweets during the election campaign and utilize the #MoreHomeNotPolitics hashtag to tell your own local stories on your own social media platforms.

Through the buildingcommunities.ca website, we have created a variety of information graphics on a variety of housing topics that can be shared on local association or member company Twitter and Facebook pages all with the aim to engage, educate, establish and inform both candidates and the broader community. OHBA staff are also available to work directly with local associations to create customized graphics and messages that can be utilized on your own local social media platforms.

What not to do on social media? We strongly recommend to “take the higher road” on social media. That means do not engage in arguments, get emotional or “feed the trolls” through negative back-and-forth posts. Remember that social media is not a form of direct communication and that anyone can read these posts, it is always better to take the higher road and not engage in overly negative dialogue.

Lastly, while engagement, education and information are the goals, sometimes you will simply have to respectfully disagree with their positions – keep discussions focused around issues, and do not use social media to publicly disparage candidates. Remember that the association is non- partisan.

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 11 ALL CANDIDATES MEETINGS

All Candidates meetings are great opportunities to put the candidates’ views on record. You may choose only to attend all candidates meetings, or your local association can sponsor one. There are advantages and disadvantages to each option – choose what is best for your association.

ATTENDING AN ALL CANDIDATES MEETING Watch local papers for announcements of All Candidates meetings and/or check with one of the campaign headquarters for a meeting in your area.

When you ask your question, it is a good idea to preface the question some background information but avoid making a speech. If the preamble is too long, the candidates could get lost before you ask your question and you will lose the sympathy of the other audience members.

Avoid any confrontation that will lose the support of the crowd and create ill feelings between you and the candidate. No matter what you think of their answer or tone, don’t argue with them in public. Defend your position, but don’t argue.

HOLDING AN ALL CANDIDATES MEETING Sponsoring an All Candidates meeting, open to the public, is an excellent way to raise the profile of your local association as well as making politicians more knowledgeable and accountable to industry issues. What a candidate says or how they perform at an All Candidates meeting can have a great impact locally. These meetings often attract local media and occasionally will draw provincial/national media attention. Media reports also often mention your association sponsored the meeting.

Again, partnering with the local real estate board, local chamber of commerce, small business association or newspaper are all options to be considered.

ORGANIZING AN ALL CANDIDATES MEETING: ■ Engage the candidates or campaign managers as soon as possible, and put them on notice that you are organizing for an All Candidates meeting. Once the candidates have agreed to participate, contact each of their campaign managers to set the date.

■ Schedule a meeting with the representatives of each of the campaign teams for the major

12 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS candidates to negotiate the details of how the meeting will be run (time allotments, draws for speaking order, procedures for asking and answering questions, etc.), room set up and audio requirements.

■ The meeting with the candidates’ representatives will provide you with an opportunity to educate the members of the candidates’ team of some of the local association’s position on local issues.

■ Publicize the event to your members and public through an ad in the community newspaper or in co-operation with the candidates involved.

■ Advise the media -- time, place, and other relevant details. Use the sample media advisory as a guide (Appendix D).

■ Prepare a few questions specific to your local association’s issues to be asked by the moderator, and share them in advance with the candidates. The all-candidates meetings are not meant to be a GOTCHA moment, but an opportunity for the candidates to establish and inform your members and the public of their positions.

■ Organize the room with theatre seating with candidates and moderator sitting at the front. Consider your President as the moderator, and fill the room with the membership.

■ Allow each candidate 5 minutes for opening remarks.

■ Open the floor to questions from the audience. Have a floor microphone to ensure that questions can be heard.

■ Allow each candidate a limited amount of time to respond to each question.

■ Utilize social media to report or quote some (not all!) questions and answers as well as photos of the event.

■ Speak to the media attending the meeting to build the profile of your local association.

Brantford Home Builders’ Association hosts an all-candidates meeting in 2014

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 13 RECEPTIONS OR DINNER MEETINGS

On a much smaller level, members of your association (The Executive, for example) could opt to host a reception for each of the nominated candidates in your area.

It is generally best to invite one candidate at a time to the reception or coffee/dinner party. It gives the candidate and opportunity to make their case for your members support, almost an exclusive opportunity.

A coffee/dinner party requires significantly less co-ordination of schedules than an all candidates meeting – yet there is the disadvantage of not having the media exposure.

Again, always let the candidate know about topics of interest to your members and request candidates to clarify their positions.

14 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS APPENDIX A: PROVINCIAL ELECTION RIDINGS

Previously, under the Representation Act, 2005, Ontario’s electoral boundaries were different than federal electoral boundaries. Effective since the previous election in 2014, Ontario was divided into 107 electoral districts. Due to population changes and a desire to increase representation from northern aboriginal communities the number of electoral districts will increase to 124 for the general election on June 7, 2018

Learn more on the Elections Ontario website elections.ontario.on.ca or call 1-888-668-8683

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 15 APPENDIX B: KEY 2011 & 2014 PROVINCIAL STATISTICS

2011 2014 PARTY VOTE % SEATS VOTE % SEATS LIB 37.65 53 38.65 58 PC 35.43 37 31.25 28 NDP 22.74 17 23.75 21 Other 4.19 - 6.35 -

2014 ONTARIO GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS

16 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS APPENDIX C: NAMES OF PROVINCIAL RIDINGS ELECTORAL DISTRICT Access an updated list of current ridings and candidates online elections.on.ca

EAST - OTTAWA GTA - PEEL Hamilton East—Stoney Creek Carleton Kanata—Carleton Hamilton West—Ancaster— Nepean Dundas Orléans Milton Niagara Falls Ottawa—Vanier —Cooksville —Nepean Mississauga—Erin Mills Oakville Mississauga—Lakeshore Oakville North—Burlington EASTERN ONTARIO Mississauga—Malton St. Catharines Bay of Quinte Mississauga—Streetsville Glengarry—Prescott—Russell MIDWESTERN ONTARIO Hastings—Lennox and Addington TORONTO - Brantford—Brant SCARBOROUGH Cambridge Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston Scarborough—Agincourt Guelph Leeds—Grenville— Scarborough Centre Haldimand—Norfolk Thousand Islands and Rideau Scarborough—Guildwood Huron—Bruce Lakes Scarborough North Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke Scarborough—Rouge Park Kitchener—Conestoga Stormont—Dundas— Kitchener South—Hespeler South Glengarry Oxford TORONTO – NORTH Perth—Wellington CENTRAL ONTARIO YORK AND NORTH Waterloo Barrie—Innisfil TORONTO Wellington—Halton Hills Barrie—Springwater—Oro- Medonte SOUTHWESTERN Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound ONTARIO Dufferin—Caledon Eglinton—Lawrence Chatham-Kent—Leamington Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes— Willowdale Elgin—Middlesex—London Brock Essex Northumberland—Peterborough Lambton—Kent—Middlesex South TORONTO AND EAST London—Fanshawe Peterborough—Kawartha YORK Simcoe—Grey Beaches—East York Davenport Sarnia—Lambton York—Simcoe Spadina—Fort York Windsor—Tecumseh GTA – DURHAM AND Toronto—Danforth YORK Toronto—St. Paul’s NORTHERN ONTARIO Ajax University—Rosedale Algoma—Manitoulin Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Mushkegowuk—James Bay Hill TORONTO - ETOBICOKE Durham AND YORK Nipissing King—Vaughan Etobicoke Centre Parry Sound—Muskoka Markham—Stouffville Sault Ste. Marie Markham—Thornhill Etobicoke—Lakeshore Sudbury Markham—Unionville Humber River—Black Creek Timiskaming—Cochrane Newmarket—Aurora Parkdale—High Park Timmins Oshawa —Weston Kenora—Rainy River Pickering—Uxbridge Kiiwetinong Richmond Hill HAMILTON, HALTON Thunder Bay—Atikokan Thornhill AND NIAGARA Thunder Bay—Superior North Vaughan—Woodbridge Burlington Whitby Flamborough—Glanbrook

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 17 APPENDIX D: SAMPLE MEDIA ADVISORY

(insert logo)

MEDIA ADVISORY

LOCAL CANDIDATES FACE OFF!

TOWN/CITY – Date (Local Association Name) is sponsoring an All-Candidates Meeting for the (mayor / ward) candidates in (Ward or municipality). The meeting will take place (date, time, location) at (name of town/city), Ontario. The candidates will respond to questions from the home building industry; (if you decide to invite members of the public mention this here).

(Name), (Title and Organization), will act as moderator for the evening.

(Add a quote from the moderator or your President, stressing the importance of the election to the industry, or commenting on how the provincial election affects your local community and local issues. Give examples when appropriate.)

The (Local Association Name) is proudly affiliated with the Ontario Home Builder’s Association (OHBA) and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA). The (Local Association Name) is the voice of the residential construction industry in (municipality / region) representing approximately XXX member companies.

For more information, please contact:

(Give two names of people who will be available to answer questions and include their titles and telephone numbers).

-30-

18 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS APPENDIX E: SAMPLE ASSOCIATION BACKGROUNDER

ASSOCIATION OHBA is the voice of the land development, new BACKGROUND housing and professional renovation industries in Ontario. OHBA represents over 4,000 member BILD companies, organized through a network of 29 local BLUEWATER associations across the province. Our membership BRANTFORD CHATHAM-KENT is made up of all disciplines involved in land CORNWALL development and residential construction, including: GREATER DUFFERIN builders, developers, professional renovators, trade DURHAM REGION contractors, manufacturers, consultants and suppliers. GREY-BRUCE The residential construction industry employed over GUELPH & DISTRICT 336,000 people and contributed over $56 billion to the HALDIMAND NORFOLK province’s economy in 2016. HALIBURTON COUNTY HAMILTON-HALTON KINGSTON-FRONTENAC OHBA facilitates the exchange of ideas and information LANARK-LEEDS and keeps members current, informed and in touch LONDON with each other. We provide ongoing training and NIAGARA technical assistance ensuring that Ontario home buyers NORTH BAY & DISTRICT continue to have available to them the best built GREATER OTTAWA housing in the world. OXFORD COUNTY PETERBOROUGH & THE KAWARTHAS QUINTE The Ontario Home Builders’ Association believes SARNIA-LAMBTON that close co-operation and communication with SIMCOE COUNTY government can result in increased economic growth ST.THOMAS-ELGIN and the creation of employment opportunities. STRATFORD & AREA By outlining our concerns and putting forth viable SUDBURY & DISTRICT solutions, we are a key element in facilitating long-term THUNDER BAY resolutions to Ontario’s housing needs. WATERLOO REGION WINDSOR ESSEX As an association, we have taken a strong stance on Ontario Home Builders’ Association professionalism and we require members to adhere 20 Upjohn Road, Suite #101 to our Code of Ethics. We will continue to regulate North York, Ontario M3B 2V9 ourselves and to place high value on membership in the 416-443-1545 / 800-387-0109 Ontario Home Builders’ Association. Email: [email protected] www.ohba.ca

GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS • OHBA 19 20 OHBA • GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION PROCESS office Ontario Home Builders' Association home 20 Upjohn Rd., Suite 101, North York, ON M3B 2V9 telephone 1- 800-387-0109 or 416-443-1545  [email protected] brand16@OntarioHBA #MoreHomesNotPolitics  www.ohba.ca