QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Housing Critic MPP Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) is sounding the alarm that the Conservative’s Bill 23, which made fundamental changes to land use planning, is putting Peel Region’s affordable housing plan in jeopardy.
“Peel Region has a Housing Master Plan to build 2,400 new affordable homes on public land by 2028. The Member for Brampton South even went to the announcement to celebrate the plan’s launch,” Bell said.
“Now this plan for affordable homes is in jeopardy of failing because the region is losing $200 million in revenue."
The Region of Peel estimates they will lose $2 billion in revenue over the next decade because of the Ford Conservatives’ changes to development fees, which fund affordable housing programs.
Peel Region had to invest money from its own tight budget to get the affordable housing program started and receive matching federal funds from CMHC. The Ford Conservatives’ changes put the federal funding at risk as well.
The Conservatives’ 2023 budget also shows that funding to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, which funds housing programs, has been cut by $124.4 million.
Bell and the Ontario NDP are calling for the Ford Conservatives to make municipalities whole.