Reducing developer charges, allowing more units on one residential lot, and pursuing rent-to-own programs are among a host of measures Ontario announced Tuesday aimed at tackling the housing crisis.
The Progressive Conservative administration has pledged to construct 1.5 million homes over the course of ten years and has passed new legislation aimed at promoting and accelerating construction.
To achieve that provincial goal, the province has identified 29 municipalities where the majority of new housing will need to be constructed. These municipalities will need to create “pledges” outlining how they will achieve their assigned targets, though there are currently no penalties for not doing so.
According to the province, there will be a demand for 285,000 new dwellings in Toronto, 151,000 in Ottawa, 120,000 in Mississauga, and 113,000 in Brampton.
Ontario has previously given the so-called strong mayors of Toronto and Ottawa the authority to override council when decisions relate to the construction of housing.
The list of towns with the largest housing requirements may indicate other places to whom Ford may later grant strong mayor responsibilities.
The legislation was previewed by Ford and his housing minister earlier on Tuesday at a Toronto Region Board of Trade event.
Ford stressed in his address that “our government would never neglect the countless Ontario families who want to put the call home.”
The desire of everyone is to own a small white picket fence. They can make the minor improvements to their home and raise its worth because they know they are building equity when they turn the key in the door. That is the aim. Ideology and politics will not prevent us from acting in the best interests of all Ontarians.
“The proposal would permit up to three residential units on one land, such as garden homes and basement flats, without the need for bylaw modifications. Additionally exempt from development fees would be those new apartments.
In order to encourage building, the government also plans to freeze, cut, and exclude costs related to the construction of new homes.
Various fees would not apply to affordable housing, non-profit housing, inclusionary zoning units (affordable housing in new developments), and some “attainable” units.
Additionally, development fees for landlords would be decreased, with bigger savings on family-sized apartments.
In a technical briefing, government representatives were unable to provide an estimate of the financial impact on towns.
Along with employing surplus government lands, modular homes, and rent-to-own schemes, the new housing plan calls for increasing the density of housing close to transit hubs.
According to Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, these proposals mark the government’s most daring housing reforms to date.
Additionally, late on Monday, Clark stated that the province would be increasing the non-resident speculation tax on property bought by foreign nationals from 20% to 25%, effective Tuesday.
Ontario plans to lower developer fees to encourage the building of new homes
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