HISTORY
Where we came from
and where we’re going.
By bridging gaps between government, industry, academia, and technology, One Ontario supports efforts to modernize development approvals, improve housing delivery, and promote sustainable growth across Ontario.
2014
Foundation
Dr. Arash Shahi, a Civil Engineer with a PhD in multi-sensory data fusion for automated construction management, co-founded the Building Innovation Research Centre (BIRC) at the University of Toronto.
Collaborating with industry partners, municipalities, and agencies, Shahi led research on streamlining development approvals in Ontario, analyzing global permitting solutions. While the research demonstrated the potential to streamline approvals, implementation across fragmented systems and institutions remained a challenge.
May 2020
Industry Collaboration
Recognizing the limitations of academia in driving implementation, Dr. Shahi co-founded AECO Innovation Lab alongside key industry partners to address the digital transformation needs of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sectors.
July 2020
The Birth of One Ontario
AECO partnered with the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) to launch the One Ontario initiative with the goal of creating shared infrastructure that could simplify communication between applicants, municipalities, and approval agencies while supporting more efficient development approvals.
The initial alliance consisted of nearly 40 professional associations, municipalities, and government agencies united by a shared goal: to modernize and streamline the development approval process in Ontario and address the ever-growing housing crisis.
April 2021
CMHC Housing Supply Challenge Success
AECO’s One Ontario initiative received funding under the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Supply Challenge. This funding supported a scalable proof-of-concept pilot titled “Pre-development Process Streamlining and Modernization in Support of Housing Affordability in Simcoe County: a scalable Proof of Concept solution for all regional governments in Canada.” This project aimed to pilot the One Ontario initiative within Simcoe County.
October 2022
Continued Funding and Development
The One Ontario project was named a final funding recipient of the CMHC Housing Supply Challenge, enabling further research, prototype development, and implementation of the concept. This phase saw the research evolve into a robust platform for streamlining real estate and development decisions, by normalizing fragmented data into structured, machine-readable formats that can be queried to improve planning and decision-making processes.
January 2024
Incorporation as a Non-Profit Organization
One Ontario transitioned into a non-profit organization to refine its approach and build trust among stakeholders. This shift enables the organization to prioritize public good, transparency, and community benefits while continuing to engage municipalities, government agencies, and industry leaders with a continued focus on helping modernize approvals and support housing delivery across Canada.
2026
Today
Today, One Ontario operates as a not-for-profit organization focused on building shared infrastructure for development approvals and providing expert real estate services. By bringing together governments, industry leaders, researchers, and technology partners, One Ontario is helping advance a province-wide vision for more transparent, efficient, and coordinated approvals.
What began as a partnership between academia, government, and industry has evolved into a results-driven initiative tackling systemic issues in the development process.
One Ontario is now focused on practical solutions that improve application quality, reduce inefficiencies, and support housing delivery. Grounded in collaboration between government, industry, academia, and technology, the organization is helping lay the foundation for a more connected, AI-enabled approvals ecosystem designed to meet the needs of future generations.