Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing introduced legislation to address the housing supply shortage being faced across the province. The More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, if passed, will make changes to multiple pieces of existing legislation and supporting regulations as part of Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan for 2022-2023.
The City is facing a housing crisis and climate crisis. As a municipal government, the City has a responsibility to review existing practices and policies and adapt and make changes in the public interest. However, the proposal as presented by the Province fails to address the goals of increasing housing supply, housing affordability, and improved process and instead will result in the loss of environmental protections, heritage conservation, urban design and accountability to the public, along with severe financial implications for the City and Region.
The Bill threatens the foundation of planning and community building further and generates conflict and division in the process when it is critical that all levels work together. Should the Bill be passed as proposed, it will have a detrimental impact to the environmental, social and economic health and wellbeing of our community, setting the City back instead of progressing forward.
The City agrees that additional housing supply is warranted; however, housing alone does not create community. Bill 23 has no regard or consideration for infrastructure funding, asset management, environmental systems, public realm, and quality of space. Bill 23 includes varying timelines for the proposed amendments with some coming into force upon the Act receiving Royal Assent and others only coming into force by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, of which the timing is currently unknown. There are a number of associated regulations anticipated that the Province has not yet released.