BSAO News

BSAO Government Relations Initiative Report to Members

Over the past year, the BSAO Board of Directors has taken a deliberate and collective step to strengthen the Association’s role as a trusted voice in Ontario’s building sector. As part of our strategic priorities, we advanced targeted government engagement efforts to ensure that building science perspectives are represented in policy discussions shaping the future of housing and infrastructure in the province.

Key goals

• Advance energy performance and resilience 
  Promote healthier, more sustainable, and energy-efficient buildings across Ontario, supporting long-term performance and reduced operating costs. 

• Elevate the Building Science Specialist (BSS) designation 
  Advocate for standardized training and certification to strengthen professional practice, improve building outcomes, and enhance the value of building science expertise. 

• Align with provincial priorities 
  Position building science as a critical enabler of Ontario’s housing goals, supporting the delivery of 1.5 million new homes by 2031 while maintaining quality, durability, and performance. 

Actions taken

• Targeted government engagement 
  Established direct relationships with key decision-makers and senior staff across priority ministries, including: 

• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) 
• Associate Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing 
• Ministry of Infrastructure 
• Ministry of Energy and Mines 
• Associate Ministry of Energy Intensive Industries 
• Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response 

Engagement focused on aligning building science priorities with current policy initiatives and provincial housing targets.

• Bipartisan outreach 
  Connected with both government and opposition representatives to ensure building science perspectives are considered across the political landscape.

• High-impact industry engagement 
  Facilitated direct, hands-on engagement with policymakers at The Buildings Show (December 3–5), including hosting senior officials at the BSAO booth for guided tours and discussions. Attendees included Graydon Smith, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Adil Shamji, Housing Critic (Ontario Liberal Party); Ted Hsu, Energy Critic (Ontario Liberal Party); and Christopher Mills, Senior Policy Advisor to the Associate Minister of Energy Intensive Industries. These interactions provided an opportunity to demonstrate real-world applications and discuss policy-relevant challenges and opportunities. 

• Strategic positioning for advisory roles 
  Initiated targeted outreach to secure representation on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) ministerial advisory board, reinforcing BSAO’s role as a technical and policy resource.

Outcomes

• Strengthened BSAO’s position as a credible industry voice 
  Established BSAO as a recognized and trusted stakeholder with government, with building science perspectives increasingly considered in policy discussions. 

• Built direct relationships with key decision-makers 
  Developed meaningful connections with Ministers, MPPs, Chiefs of Staff, and senior policy advisors across priority ministries, creating clear channels for ongoing engagement. 

• Advanced awareness of building science priorities 
  Increased visibility of energy performance, durability, and long-term asset value considerations within housing and infrastructure conversations. 

• Created momentum for future influence 
  Positioned BSAO to participate more directly in advisory roles, consultations, and policy development initiatives moving forward. 

Next Steps

• Build on established relationships through targeted engagement 
  Continue strengthening connections with key government stakeholders through focused and purposeful interactions aligned with priority policy areas. 

• Leverage existing momentum 
  Advance building science priorities by building on the visibility and credibility established over the past year. 

• Pursue strategic opportunities for influence 
  Seek participation in advisory bodies, consultations, and policy discussions where BSAO can contribute technical expertise and industry insight. 

• Refine advocacy focus areas 
  Continue aligning efforts with provincial priorities, including housing delivery, energy performance, and long-term asset resilience.

Decision point

As BSAO continues to build its role as a trusted voice in Ontario’s building sector, the Board is seeking members input on how best to advance its government advocacy efforts moving forward.

Please complete this two question survey to guide the Board of Directors on their next steps.

Take the Survey