More Housing On Way

The Ford government recently announced the broad strokes of its “housing supply action plan” aimed at getting a greater number and variety of much-needed homes built in Ontario’s least affordable communities — especially Toronto.

Many details of the plan remain to be revealed, but early signs suggest it will include some of the boldest steps towards affordability the province has seen in a long time.

The government’s strategy represents a fundamental break from the mistaken “demand-side” strategies that have been repeatedly tried and proved wanting in recent years.

For several years now, housing policy mainly tried to curb housing demand in Canada’s most expensive areas — think punitive taxes on summer homeowners in British Columbia, and mortgage “stress tests” imposed by the federal government. Ontario’s latest proposals — should they come to pass — mark an important change of tack in unlocking more housing supply.

Instead of trying to dissuade demand, the Ford government aims to encourage growth in the number of new houses, townhomes, duplexes and apartments. By allowing supply to keep up with demand, a supply-centered approach can help make sure that housing is built, prevent prices from running away and prevent our biggest cities from becoming exclusive enclaves.

So what exactly will the Ford government’s supply-based strategy look like?

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See Also:

(1) TDSB trying to scare parents with bogus numbers: Ford

(2) Ford’s party should pay for partisan ads

(3) Council whines about cuts for 4 hours

(4) #RingOfFire (#RoF) News – May 14, 2019

(5) OPP officers, civilians employees get wage increase over four-year contract

(6) A large swath of eastern Ontario is included in new Ottawa-area health unit

(7) Local public health officials sound rural alarm over Queen’s Park funding changes

(8) Ford government says carbon tax — not budget cuts — will hurt OPP coffers