TORONTO MAYORALTY CANDIDATES ADDRESS DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING INDUSTRY

TORONTO, Sept. 13 /CNW/ - Members of the Building Industry & Land Development Association (BILD) got a chance to size-up the leading contenders for the Toronto Mayoralty at an industry-focused debate held in Don Mills this morning.

BILD and its members are actively involved in ensuring that the building and development industry maintains an outstanding relationship with all levels of government. As the voice of the industry throughout the Greater Toronto Area, the Association has long been promoting housing affordability and choice through information, education and advocacy.

"The Mayor matters so it matters to BILD that our membership is engaged in the election, understands the candidates' platforms and ultimately gets out to vote on October 25," said Joe Vaccaro, Vice-President of Policy and Government Relations at BILD.

Candidates Rob Ford, Joe Pantalone, Rocco Rossi, George Smitherman and Sarah Thompson had the opportunity to make opening statements and respond to pre-determined questions focusing on issues of concern to the industry ranging from the development approval process to pocket-book issues such as the land transfer tax, development charges and development standards.

"With more than a third (38 per cent) of all GTA new home sales and more than three quarters (77 per cent) of all high-rise sales occurring in the City of Toronto, our members have a massive stake in the outcome of this election," said Stephen Dupuis, President and Chief Executive Officer of BILD.

The residential construction industry is essential to the City's long-term prosperity, with an estimated 13,773 new housing starts expected in 2010. These homes will bring Toronto 72,000 construction-related jobs and $3.7-billion in wages, making the building industry the largest employer in the city.

With more than 1,300 members, BILD, formed through the merger of the Greater Toronto Home Builders' Association and Urban Development Institute/Ontario, is the voice of the land development, home building and professional renovation industry in the Greater Toronto Area.  BILD is proudly affiliated with the Ontario and Canadian Home Builders' Associations.

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