Month: February 2022

Recently, concerns have peaked over skyrocketing housing prices, the lack of affordable housing and intensive development pressures in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA). The situation has prompted suggestion that the solution to these problems is to “Let Cities Sprawl” and “build baby, build!”

These kinds of proposals are likely to make developers very happy, but do little to solve the housing crisis or wider problems related to development patterns in the region.

https://theconversation.com/giving-developers-free-rein-isnt-the-solution-to-the-gtha-housing-challenges-176128

A prominent skeptic of Ontario’s ambitious housing plan has emerged — Canada’s oldest bank. The province’s Housing Affordability Task Force released a plan to build 1.5 million homes over 10 years. BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic dumped a bucket of cold water on the plan. Not only does the bank say it doesn’t make sense, they hint it sounds like Ontario’s last real estate bubble.

https://betterdwelling.com/ontarios-plan-to-build-1-5-million-homes-isnt-possible-after-peak-demand-bmo/

Barrie’s mayor is cautioning against cutting out the input of residents and municipalities in the race to build more than 1.5 million housing units in the next decade.

On Tuesday, a housing affordability task force appointed by the province issued 55 recommendations to wrestle down the cost of housing and boost supply.

The group recommends eliminating municipal policies that prioritize preserving “neighbourhood character” and exempting projects of 10 units or fewer from public consultation when they only need minor variances and limiting municipalities from hosting talks beyond what is required in the Planning Act.

https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/i-m-a-bit-concerned-barrie-s-mayor-flags-issues-with-housing-task-force-recommendations-1.5773523