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Housing is one of the greatest challenges I’ve ever faced as premier of Ontario. Right now, it’s likely the single greatest challenge facing every government in this country.
After all, having a place to call home isn’t a partisan issue. It’s something we all need.
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Last June, we were re-elected on a promise to build at least 1.5-million homes. That goal may seem simple. Getting there is anything but.
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That’s because Ontario is growing at an incredible speed. Last year, our population grew by 500,000 people. We’re growing faster than Texas and Florida, the fastest-growing American states.
If we keep growing at these rates, we’ll add another five-million people in the next 10 years. That’s like adding two new cities nearly the size of Toronto in a decade.
As our population continues to grow, the consequences of not building more homes are dire. Young families and newcomers in search of the Ontario dream will see homeownership slip further away. The cost of goods and services will go up as job creation and investment are hampered.
Worse still, failing to build more homes threatens to erode one of our core Canadian values: our so-far-unwavering support for immigration. At a time when our economic success depends on welcoming skilled newcomers to fill critical labour gaps, we can’t let that happen. We won’t.
We need to build more homes of all types. It’s that simple. To do so, our government is the first one in decades to have a real plan to build more homes.
Our Housing Supply Action Plan has set ambitious targets for growing municipalities. It’s cut costly red tape while reducing municipal fees and taxes on purpose-built rentals and affordable and attainable housing. Through our transit-oriented communities, we plan to build homes next to transit infrastructure in growing cities.
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After decades of stagnation, we’re starting to see results. Our plan is working.
Against challenging headwinds like higher inflation rates and labour shortages, the last two years have seen the most new housing starts in over 30 years.
But as Ontario grows at unprecedented speed, we need to do more. We need to use every tool in our toolbox to build more homes. That includes unlocking more land to build homes families can afford.
We have two choices: we can build more homes or we can sit back and let the crisis get worse. Our government is choosing to build.
By unlocking these properties, at least 50,000 new homes will be built to house 150,000 people. As we do, we’re ensuring home builders deliver billions of dollars in new community infrastructure, including new roads, parks, community centres, transit, water and health-care infrastructure, as well as major non-profit housing builds. All of this will be paid for by the landowners and home builders, not Ontario or municipal taxpayers.
As we continue to respond to the housing supply and affordability crisis, there’s no time to waste. After decades of inaction, we were elected on a promise to cut through delays, stop the never-ending talk and deliver for the people of Ontario.
When it comes to delivering, there are few issues as important as building more homes. Doing so will take all levels of government working together. For our part, we will continue to implement our plan to build more homes. It won’t be easy, but we’ll do everything in our power to support every newcomer and young family in search of the Ontario dream.
Let’s get building.
Postmedia News
Doug Ford is the premier of Ontario.
Doug Ford: The housing crisis can only be solved with more homes - National Post
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