Years ago, on a rowing team at university, I quickly learned that all crew members had to be pulling in unison to successfully reach the finish line. It is no different with the present housing supply crisis plaguing our cities. All levels of government
August 18, 2023
In Ontario, the provincial government and Housing Minister Steve Clark have stepped up to the plate with legislation and the introduction of strong mayor powers. To start with, the feds could exempt or rebate the HST collected on construction of residential buildings, including condos and purpose-built rental projects, and reduce infrastructure pressures on municipalities that have limited funding tools by increasing transfer payments to cities and town from federal taxes collected from the construction sector.
In return, the feds are only investing 7.1 per cent of their share in public infrastructure investment. They’re collecting billions of dollars each year in housing taxes but giving back little. In 2022, the Ontario government set a goal to get 1.5 million new homes built in a decade and established targets for municipalities to reach. Sadly, many are not even close to their benchmarks.
Municipalities must play their part. They need to allow more densification. Zoning codes must allow for more multi-residential housing to be built in all areas. And onerous parking requirements, hefty development charges and excessive design requirements must be eliminated.
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