May 4th, 2026
Minister Harris,
We noted your recent letter related to the Region of Waterloo’s water crisis and agree immediate action is needed.
The business and investment community continues to be deeply concerned about the holding provisions on approved development applications, as well as the freeze on processing new applications. This uncertainty is effectively freezing investment decisions, resulting in capital and labour shifting to other jurisdictions.
At its core, businesses need certainty. They need to know when Waterloo Region will once again be “open for business.” As of today, it is not.
There is no question that this issue must be addressed, and we recognize that the Region has approved a range of immediate and medium-term infrastructure projects related to water. However, there is no immediate risk that justifies the complete shutdown currently in place.
The Region’s own timelines indicate that infrastructure renewal efforts will take 12 to 24 months to restore full development capacity. This timeline is unacceptable.
The following questions are on the top of mind of many in the Region:
– What is the timeline for lifting holding provisions on approved applications?
– When will new development applications be received and processed without delay?
The clarity to these critical questions cannot come months from now. Rather they must be made clear in a matter of weeks. Investment, financing, and skilled labour depend on confidence that Waterloo Region is a place for business and growth.
Once again, we agree the time is now for all of the relevant ministries and the Region to bring clarity and a clear timeline, so the Region is open for business.
Respectfully,
Ian McLean
President & CEO
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Greg Durocher
President & CEO
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce
