The OntarioElection is done — time to enable getting shovels in the ground
Within existing municipalities, barriers must be removed to make it simpler and faster to add gentle density. This means making it easier to build “as of right” and doing away with old zoning rules that effectively exclude development from vast swaths of the urban landscape.Article content
We must also stop taxing new housing at the current unsustainable levels. Taxes and charges from all levels of government now account for approximately 25 per cent of the cost of a new home. Those imposed at the municipal level are often the most significant, perhaps because requiring new homeowners to pay for needed services and infrastructure allows municipalities to avoid the difficult decision of raising property taxes.
Lastly, development approvals and requirements must be streamlined. Getting new housing built simply takes far too long in the GTA, due to unnecessarily complicated and bureaucratic approval processes. This slows down and adds costs to each new housing unit coming to market.Article content Fixing the GTA’s housing problem requires visionary leadership. There is no doubt that GTA residents are concerned about housing affordability and will expect governments at all levels to work towards a balanced, properly functioning housing market, where supply more accurately matches demand. The time for debate has come to a conclusion—now it’s time for bold action to bring sustainable solutions that will turn challenges into opportunities.
Dave Wilkes is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association , the voice of the home building, land development and professional renovation industry in the GTA. For the latest industry news and new home data, follow BILD on Twitter, @bildgta, or visit www.bildgta.ca.
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