New Canadian Regulations Tee-Up Demand for Electronic Plan Review

The Canadian housing market is experiencing a surge in demand alongside a housing shortage that has created the need for innovative solutions.  

Across Canada, provincial governments are recognizing the urgency to expedite the building permit process and increase housing construction. The response has been a strategic focus on leveraging technology to streamline operations and facilitate faster, more efficient plan reviews. 

Digital Transformation through Legislation 

Over the last year and a half, there has been a significant shift in regulations and guidance from provincial governments, with two key pieces of legislation standing out.  

The first is a mandate that requires all online applications and plan reviews be submitted digitally. This move aligns with the broader trend of digitization in government processes to bring them in line with other industries and the digital age. 

In Ontario, a second piece of legislation, aptly named ‘More Homes Built Faster’ emphasizes the need to optimize and expedite the permitting process. With an ambitious goal of building 1.5 million homes over the next ten years, the provincial government of Ontario is championing streamlined processes to shorten the duration of building permit approvals.  

Electronic plan review technology plays a pivotal role here, allowing jurisdictions to balance expediting the plan review process, with expanding resources enabling them to effectively assess and enforce the rules, to ensure safe and compliant building plans.  

The Rise of New Plan Review Systems in Canada 

The current demand for plan review systems in Canada isn’t the first. About two decades ago, a wave of modernization in plan review and permitting systems swept across Canada. But in modern day those systems are antiquated, unable to provide the functionality, integration, or user experience that today’s GovTech delivers. 

With recent regulations and funding initiatives, jurisdictions have a renewed interest in upgrading these systems. Avolve finds itself at the forefront of this movement, providing technologies that automate and optimize the plan review and permitting process. 

The Power of Data in Reporting and Analytics 

Beyond the streamlined permitting process, Avolve's technology provides valuable data for reporting and analytics. Municipalities leverage Avolve's reporting capabilities to fulfill their various local and provincial requirements, taking a data-driven approach that not only ensures compliance with regulations but also facilitates access to additional funding tied to meeting specific metrics. 

Evolving with the Canadian Market’s Needs 

As Avolve continues to expand in the Canadian market, the connection between technological innovation and government initiatives is driving growth. By addressing the unique challenges posed by the Canadian housing shortage as well as the market’s other building needs, Avolve is well-positioned to support municipalities in their journey towards more efficient, transparent, and technology-driven plan review processes.