Ontario Taking Bold Action to Build More Homes

Beamsville – The Ontario government has introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act, which takes bold action to advance the province’s plan to address the housing crisis by building 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years. The proposals in the More Homes Built Faster Act would, if passed, ensure that cities, towns and rural communities grow with a mix of ownership and rental housing types that meet the needs of all Ontarians, from single family homes to townhomes and mid-rise apartments.

“Ontario, and Niagara specifically, are expected to grow significantly over the next ten years and we need to be able to accommodate this growth,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

“The More Homes Built Faster plan will allow Niagara to unlock more housing and give people the foundation they need to thrive.”

“For too many Ontarians, including young people, newcomers, and seniors, finding the right home is still too challenging. This is not just a big-city crisis – the housing supply shortage affects all Ontarians, including rural, urban and suburban, north and south, young and old.” said Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

“Our Housing Supply Action Plan is creating a strong foundation on which 1.5 million homes can be built over the next ten years. Our government is following through on our commitment to Ontarians by cutting delays and red tape to get more homes built faster.”

The plan puts in place actions to support the development of ‘gentle density’ – housing like triplexes or garden suites – that bridge the gap between single family homes and high-rise apartments. For example, it would remove exclusionary zoning, which allows for only one single detached home per lot. Instead, it would allow property owners to build three units without lengthy approvals and development charges.

The plan, which contains around fifty actions, addresses the housing crisis by reducing government fees and fixing developmental approval delays that slow down housing construction and increase costs.