Premier digs in on home builds
Ford says he’ll use ‘all tools’ available to reach 2032 goal
Premier Doug Ford says he’s “going to use all the tools” available to get more homes built in Ontario, including incentives for affordable housing construction.
In the wake of revelations in the Star that he’s considering the elimination of development charges on “inclusionary zoning” projects, Ford stressed no effort can be spared in achieving his “very ambitious goal” of getting 1.5 million new homes built in the province over the next 10 years.
“I know we’re going to get it done. It’s going to be an opportunity for people to have their own home,” the premier told reporters Thursday in Hamilton where he announced a new GO Transit station.
“So we’re going to use all the tools to allow the municipalities to work with us,” he said, referring to scrapping the development fees, which in Toronto range from $25,470 to $93,978 per unit depending on the size of the home.
Inclusionary zoning allows municipalities to require the construction of affordable housing units in new developments.
Asked about the Star report, which noted some projects are derailed by “exclusionary zoning” rules used by “not-in-mybackyard” (NIMBY) opponents to stop multi-unit homes from being built in traditionally single-family neighbourhoods, the premier nodded.
“I lived that down there (at city hall) and you get the NIMBYism: ‘Yeah, yeah, where’s the houses? But don’t do it in my backyard, do it to my neighbour’s backyard,” said Ford, a former Toronto city councillor.
“Ontario is growing every month. Thousands of newcomers are choosing our province as their new home as they come in search of good jobs and new opportunities,” he said.
With questions swirling about the fiscal impact of removing the fees, which fund city infrastructure, Ford emphasized his Progressive Conservative government is “working very collaboratively” with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in Ottawa.
“They have a $4-billion fund which we’ll be seeing probably 40 per cent of that, but we’re all working in unison,” the premier said of the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund.
“We know that we have to get attainable housing,” he said.
“People want their key to go in there, their door opening up, the white picket fence, the whole shebang — and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Ford confirmed that Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark is reviewing all planning processes to fast-track the building of new homes and will have more to say after Oct. 24 civic elections.
“We’re going to continue working hard with Minister Clark and his team, but, most importantly, working collaboratively in co-operation with the municipalities, the regions and the federal government,” he said.
“We all seem to be singing off the same song sheet, so we’re going to get it done.”
The Tories are mindful that tackling anything to do with zoning is always controversial.
In Toronto, about 70 per cent of neighbourhood streets are subject to “exclusionary zoning,” meaning duplexes and small apartment buildings can’t be built there.
City staff would not comment on how the changes to development charges would affect Toronto.
City Coun. Josh Matlow (Toronto—St. Paul’s) said he’s not against removing impediments to affordable housing, although eliminating the charges in inclusionary zoning areas around transit stations lets developers off the hook when it comes to paying for city services and infrastructure. “What is the government providing municipalities like Toronto when it comes to ensuring that infrastructure and services keep pace with growth for the people who live here?” he said.
Developers say the charges get passed along to homeowners. A study last year from the Building Industry and Land Development Association said inclusion zoning would add between $66,000 to $116,000 over the life of a home to buyers of marketrate housing.
Removing the charges might help build a few more affordable homes, but the industry has other challenges, said Richard Lyall, president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario. Many developers are delaying projects because of the downturn in the housing market. At the same time, construction costs have risen about 30 per cent in the last year.
“This should not be sold as the thing that’s going to fix the problem because it isn’t,” he said. “It’s part of the solution. It might be the determining factor that will enable certain projects to work and be viable.”
Critics ranging from the opposition New Democrats to the Ontario Real Estate Association have urged Queen’s Park to allow for greater density.