The Ontario Government Has Introduced A Plan To Make Houses More Affordable

According to ministry estimates, about 83 per cent of Ontario households couldn’t afford the average price of a resale home in 2018. In order to solve this problem, the Ontario Government has introduced a new plan to make homes more affordable.

The government has introduced the Housing Supply Action Plan, also called More Homes, More Choice, which aims to cut red tape, build more housing and increase the number of affordable homes.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark introduced the legislation on May 2.

“People struggling to find affordable housing that fits their family budget will see real relief and real choices thanks to the Ontario Government’s comprehensive housing supply action plan,” says the press release.

The government held a public consultation prior to the release of the plan. They also asked for feedback from the business sector, research and development sectors, municipalities, the agricultural and environmental sector and many others.

The legislation would involve municipalities, nonprofits and the private industry.

It will also include legislative amendments to 13 government Acts.

The measure will limit the development approval process to remove unnecessary duplication and barriers. The plan would also simplify the process for creating new rental housing options.

Minister Clark says, “We’ve heard loud and clear from families across Ontario that finding housing that is affordable takes too long and costs too much. 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.”

According to the plan documents, the housing plan consists of five themes: Speed, Cost, Mix, Rent and Innovation.

The government states that the plan will improve the housing supply, but still protect health, safety, the agricultural sector and the environment.

The government is also launching “A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” which aims to create more housing in the region in order to meet the needs of the population.

The increase in construction activity will also spur new investment and create thousands of jobs in the private construction sector. The government states that the plan will grow the GDP by 0.3 per cent and create about 15,000 new jobs in the next three years if they build 10,000 houses.

Photos courtesy of the Ontario Government.