Ontario’s government launched its housing supply action plan on Thursday to address the housing crisis in the province.
Titled “More Homes, More Choice,” the action plan is a full-spectrum suite of legislative changes to increase the supply of affordable housing and provide families with more meaningful choices on where to live, work and raise their families.
"We've heard loud and clear from families across Ontario that finding housing that is affordable takes too long and costs too much," said Steve Clark, Ontario’s minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "After years of neglect by the former government, there is now a housing crisis in Ontario, and the dream of ownership is out of reach for too many. Our plan will make it easier to build the right type of homes in the right places, giving Ontarians and their families more flexibility when looking for a home they can afford."
Clark said that the action plan would require a province-wide effort that includes municipalities, non-profits and private industry and will also be a comprehensive all-of-government initiative that will include legislative amendments to 13 government acts.
The new measures proposed in the action plan would streamline the overly complex development approval process to remove unnecessary duplication and barriers, making costs and timelines more predictable.
As part of the action plan, the provincial government is also launching “A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe” to address the needs of the region’s growing population, diversity and local priorities.
The action plan was informed by an extensive public consultation that included feedback from the public, as well as business and industry, research and development sectors, municipalities, the agricultural and environmental sector and many others.
