Every election season, I dedicate this space to discuss the most pressing housing matters affecting residents of the Greater Toronto Area.
In a matter of weeks, on Oct. 26, voters will head to the polls to decide which municipal leaders will be making decisions on their behalf for the next four years.
My final message to voters is this: it is time to seek more integrated solutions as we work toward meeting the housing needs of the GTA.
As the housing crisis has deepened and became a concern of citizens, it is also a priority issue for all three levels of government with municipalities being impacted first, then cascading upward to Queen’s Park and Ottawa.
We have seen some solutions arise, including the federal-provincial Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP), the temporarily enhanced new housing HST rebate program, new housing approval processes and countless other changes to provincial and municipal policies.
This is genuine progress, and it’s making an impact.
New home sales are increasing in Ontario, which has helped to preserve $2.8 billion in GDP, protect 17,300 jobs in construction and maintain $1.4 billion in gross government revenues in the first three months of the HST rebate program alone.
As we consider the opportunities for the next four years — specifically federal and provincial relief programs — there is an opportunity for voters to choose a more integrated solution to the GTA’s housing woes, one that involves all levels of government.
The challenge we face now, is with 25 incorporated municipalities in the GTA, there is not just one housing strategy for the region — there are 25.
The nature of federal programs and provincial policies in relation to municipalities complicates matters. The fact that each level of government has jurisdiction over different aspects affecting housing compounds these challenges.
Ottawa oversees immigration levels, the growing investment in infrastructure projects, and CMHC funding programs, while Queen’s Park stickhandles housing policy, building codes and planning policies.
While municipal governments are also responsible for housing policy, their focus is on the front lines: approvals, zoning, development charges (DCs) and municipal infrastructure.
As a result, planning, infrastructure, approvals and housing policies remain fragmented.
Clearly, there is a need for more co-ordination across all levels of government when it comes to housing strategy.
Through better co-ordination, GTA residents would have a clear picture of housing progress with everyone working toward a common goal: more housing choice and faster builds that the average person can afford.
Additionally, we could use a more unified strategy to move toward one system of measurement for new housing development.
Municipalities measure housing development through approvals and permits, while Ottawa uses housing starts and completions to measure progress. There is no single, consistent dashboard or picture that measures new housing across the entire development and construction pipeline — whether regionally, provincially or nationally.
Creating a common, unified measurement and reporting system — used by all levels of government and publicly reported — would provide consumers with improved transparency and accountability for new housing development. It would also shine a light on successes and bottlenecks.
As we inch closer to election day, voters need to know this: improved housing co-operation across all levels of government works. We have seen it with the DCRP and enhanced HST new housing rebate programs.
As you cast your ballot, keep in mind the candidates who prioritize doing something about our housing crisis and will work collaboratively to get it done.
Your choice will define our collective future.
