President’s message
As we move further into the year, I’m energized by the spirit of collaboration that continues to drive FRPO’s work and our sector forward. The newly re-elected PC government has set a renewed focus on Ontario’s housing challenges, and I am pleased to share that FRPO is working closely with key decision makers to ensure that professional rental housing providers remain central to the solution.
Our Board’s recent meeting with Attorney General Doug Downey allowed us to discuss ongoing improvements to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) processes, as well as Bill 10, important steps toward ensuring a fair, efficient, and balanced system for both providers and residents. In addition, FRPO’s Board had the opportunity to meet with Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack to discuss Bill 17, which aims to accelerate building and streamline approvals across Ontario. Continuing this dialogue, earlier in the month I also met with Associate Minister Graydon Smith to emphasize the crucial role of purpose-built rentals in tackling the province’s housing needs.
These meetings reflect our ongoing commitment to building and strengthening relationships with government at every level. As Ontario’s leadership sets to work on delivering much-needed housing, FRPO will continue to be an active, constructive partner, ensuring our members’ perspectives are heard and advocating for policies that are practical, effective, and focused on real solutions.
Our commitment to advocacy extends beyond provincial borders. Recently, I joined Ireland’s The Hard Shoulder radio show to discuss the parallels between the housing challenges faced in Canada and Ireland. In addition, I was pleased to contribute a letter to the editor in The Globe and Mail, setting the record straight on the important role of institutional landlords and correcting misconceptions about their impact on rental prices.
As always, I want to thank our members for their continued dedication and professionalism. Your willingness to share your stories and insights helps us champion the value and excellence of Ontario’s rental housing sector, both at home and abroad.
Together, by fostering strong partnerships and amplifying our collective voice, I’m confident we can make real progress—delivering more homes, protecting tenants, and building a thriving, resilient rental housing market for all Ontarians.
Tony Irwin, President and CEO, FRPO, and President, RHC
LBO campaign update
As we move through the summer of 2025, the Let’s Build Ontario campaign is building on momentum and our focus remains clear: to strengthen Ontario’s rental housing sector by advocating for effective, pro-housing policies and amplifying the stories and expertise of our members. Over the past months, our campaign has seen an outpouring of powerful member stories. These firsthand accounts continue to highlight the dedication, innovation, and resilience of those who make quality rental housing possible across Ontario. As we double down on sharing these experiences, our goal is to humanize the sector and underscore the vital role providers play in building strong, vibrant communities. We encourage all members to submit their stories, which will be featured across our social media platforms and website throughout the summer. This year has also brought changes at both the federal and provincial levels, with new ministers now responsible for housing. Regardless of these shifts, Let’s Build Ontario remains unwavering in our commitment to champion solutions that address housing affordability. We are focused on advancing purpose-built rentals and engaging with all levels of government to do so. In addition to member stories, the campaign continues to call on members to promote the campaign by linking to the Let’s Build Ontario website. This will help amplify the campaign’s reach with search engine optimization, which will bring greater visibility to new audiences and drive supporter growth and engagement. The campaign also continues to amplify the voices of subject matter experts who support tools and policies that remove barriers, stimulate development, and drive investment in purposebuilt rental housing. Their insights help inform the public, shape policy discussions, and reinforce the campaign’s advocacy priorities.
The need for accessible rental housing is more urgent than ever. Let’s Build Ontario will continue to push for measures that encourage investment, streamline processes, and support affordability for all residents. We ask members to help us widen our reach—share your story, promote the campaign by linking to letsbuildontario.ca, and engage with us on social media. Together, we can keep the conversation going and push for policies that create a stronger, more sustainable rental housing sector for every Ontarian.
Annual general meeting
FRPO welcomed over 100 members and industry partners to our Annual General Meeting on May 28, kicking off the day with a networking breakfast and engaging conversations about the future of Ontario’s rental housing sector.
We were honoured to host the Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and appreciated his thoughtful remarks and engagement with our members. The meeting was chaired by FRPO President & CEO Tony Irwin, with Board Chair R. Jason Ashdown providing an update on recent Board activities and priorities for the year ahead.
We are pleased to welcome two new directors to the FRPO Board:
• Penny Colomvakos, Starlight Investments
• Michelle Calloway, Minto Group
We also congratulate the following members on their re-appointments: Gloria Salomon, Geoffrey Younghusband, Colin Martin, R. Jason Ashdown, and Allan Weinbaum.
Energy efficiency, resident incentives & circularity for rentals
As ESG performance, cost control, and resident satisfaction become increasingly important for rental housing providers, Earth Day 2025 offered a timely opportunity to spotlight solutions that deliver on all three. To mark the occasion, FRPO and the Canadian Certified Rental Building™ (CRB) Program hosted a national webinar titled “Power, People, Planet,” focused on practical sustainability strategies tailored to the multi-residential sector. The session featured expert-led presentations on energy efficiency, resident incentive programs, and circular waste practices, all designed to help owners and managers improve building performance, reduce utility costs, and support ESG goals.
Power: Reducing Energy Waste, Increasing ROI
Presented by: Mert Temiz, Senior Manager, Energy – Quwa Smart Services
Multi-residential buildings are responsible for a significant portion of energy waste—often more than 25%. Mert Temiz outlined how property managers can address this through costeffective retrofits and utility engagement. His recommendations included:
• Upgrading to LED lighting for quick payback and reduced maintenance
• Installing high-efficiency windows and insulation to improve thermal performance
• Leveraging heat pumps and solar PV systems where feasible
• Participating in energy audits and incentive programs to guide investments
Mert also highlighted that Toronto has greater solar generation potential than many parts of Europe, suggesting untapped opportunities for electrification and renewable adoption.
People: Supporting Residents Through No-
Cost Incentive Programs
Presented by: Antonio Centritto, Senior Conservation Account Manager – CLEAResult Canada
Antonio Centritto shared how the Energy Affordability Program (EAP) and Home Winterproofing Program (HWP) offer fully-funded upgrades for eligible buildings and residents, including renters. These programs provide:
• Basic upgrades like LED lighting, smart thermostats, water-saving fixtures, and power bars
• Comprehensive upgrades such as insulation, draft-proofing, Energy Star ® fridges and freezers, and even heat pumps in some cases
One participating 86-unit building received 74 new fridges and 99 LED installations, all at no cost. CLEAResult supports bulk assessments, flexible scheduling, and end-to-end coordination with property managers, making it easy to implement portfolio-wide.
Planet: Embedding Circularity into Building Operations
Presented by: Gerald Grant, Founder – Innovate Waste Solutions Corp.
Waste diversion in multi-residential buildings is a challenge, but also a major ESG opportunity. Gerald Grant introduced the 5 Cs of circularity as a practical framework for improving waste management:
• Capacity – Right-size bins and ensure proper containment for all waste streams
• Convenience – Make drop-off points accessible, safe, and intuitive
• Communication – Use welcome packages, signage, and digital tools to inform and engage residents
• Cleanliness – Maintain waste areas to encourage participation and reduce pests
• Consistency – Keep messaging and processes aligned even through staff or resident turnover
Gerald also shared innovative examples, including:
• Onsite composting via FoodCycler and Lomi
• Donation partnerships for textiles and furniture
• E-waste collection through Recycle My Electronics and commercial providers
• Reusable packaging with Muuse and Friendlier The takeaway: even small actions—like spring cleaning drives or centralized signage—can drive measurable improvements in diversion and resident engagement.
Upcoming events
FRPO Charity Golf Classic
Date and Time: July 22, 2025 | 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
Another year, another incredible golf tourney! We’ll be hitting the links in support of Interval House on July 22. This event will take place at Lionhead Golf Club with registration opening in late spring. This event sells out quickly, so keep an eye out for your emails for registration opening.
Women in Rental Housing Luncheon
Date and Time: August 21, 2025 | 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
The Women in Rental Housing Luncheon is returning to the beautiful Old Mill Toronto for the afternoon dedicated to inspiration, connection and community. This signature event brings together women from across the rental housing industry to share ideas, build meaningful relationships and celebrate the impact of women in the sector.
This year's guest speaker is Cher Obediah, who is Ojibway and Mohawk, Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River Nation. She is a multidisciplinary creative as filmmaker, speaker, author, and artist. Cher is a heart-centred creative empowering others to shine their brightest light. She's a visionary who believes self-knowledge is a catalyst for healing and collective change. With a background in theatre, television, and film, she lends her energy to projects that focus on holistic health, Indigenous culture, domestic violence, youth-driven initiatives, and content that inspires others to recognize their worth.
Ontario’s leading advocate for strong and stable rental housing.
FRPO is the largest association in Ontario representing those who own, manage, build and fnance residential rental properties.
For membership inquiries please contact Lynzi Michal, Director, Membership & Marketing
Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario 801-67 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1J8 416-309-8744
lmichal@frpo.org www.frpo.org