More Homes Built Faster Act

The Ontario government introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act 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.

Several changes are noteworthy:

• Creating a new attainable housing program to drive the development of housing.
• Increasing the Non-Resident Speculation Tax rate from 20 per cent to 25 per cent to deter non-resident investors from speculating on the province’s housing market and help make home ownership more attainable for Ontario residents.
• Freezing and reducing government charges to spur new home construction and reduce the costs of housing.
• Building more density near transit, unlocking innovative approaches to design and construction, and removing red tape to get shovels in the ground faster.
• Increasing the number of units in urban areas with minimal impact on existing neighbourhoods.

What will be allows is actually congruent with Kitchener's policy on tiny homes and units within homes.  The “as of right” – that is to say, without needing a by-law amendment permission, is better than the eight storeys tossed about in the past year. The new as of right idea would consist of:

• Main residence
• Basement apartment
• Garden home 

The main question might be: To what extent will municipal councils be permitted to plan without being handcuffed by the Provincial Government.  Do we want to exempt affordable housing from development and parkland dedication fees?  Do we not need parkland for affordable housing residents?  What is the impact on municipal finances? We need to keep tabs on how the new policy will work at the municipal level.