As Ontario continues to face a housing crisis, it’s become increasingly vital for municipalities and developers to work together to address the issue of housing supply.
A major obstacle in the effort to provide Ontarians more housing has been the communication barriers between the two parties, with municipalities often failing to effectively communicate the stages of a development process. However, by implementing open correspondence between developers and the municipal government, affordable housing solutions can be met.
According to recent statistics, the lack of affordable housing in Ontario has reached critical levels. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported in 2021 that Toronto’s vacancy rate for rental apartments reached a record low of 1.1%, while the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city reached approximately $2,200 per month.
These staggering numbers demonstrate a clear need for affordable housing solutions, which means more housing must be built by developers.
In order to tackle this issue, it is critical for municipal officials and developers to work collaboratively toward creating affordable housing solutions. However, this process has been hampered by a lack of communication between the two parties. Municipal government officials have often been criticized for their anti-development rhetoric. That makes it more difficult for developers to secure the necessary permits and approvals required to begin construction on housing projects.
The More Homes for Everyone Act of 2022, which amended the Planning Act, represents a significant step toward addressing the housing supply shortage in Ontario.
The Act has given the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing the authority to require municipalities and planning boards to provide comprehensive information on planning matters. This has the potential to increase transparency and accountability in the planning process, ensuring that decision-making is evidence-based and supported by accurate data.
As a part of this process, the Ministry is currently exploring the development of a new regulation that would make it mandatory for municipalities to report accurate data on progress toward the Housing Supply Action Plan. This plan outlines the Canadian government’s commitment to building 1.1 million new homes over the next decade — a critical step toward addressing the pressing need for increased housing supply.
By requiring municipalities to report on their progress, the proposed regulation could become an invaluable tool for measuring the effectiveness of government efforts to increase the housing supply. This data could be used to identify areas where additional resources are required and to inform future policy decisions aimed at improving housing affordability and accessibility.
Through improved transparency and more detailed planning, these measures have the ability to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Ontario residents.
In addition, communication between developers and municipalities has been a significant issue. Developers often struggle to navigate the complex system of regulations set by municipal officials, forcing them to take alternative measures to move the process forward, such as going to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
These efforts are often criticized by city officials and the public, who feel the due process isn’t being followed. This clear lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings and delays in the approval process, further exasperating the housing crisis in Ontario.
In order to address these issues, it is crucial for municipal officials to be more receptive to developers’ proposals and open to constructive dialogue.
Municipal officials should strive to improve communication with developers by providing clear, concise guidelines and expectations for approval processes. In doing so, developers will have a better understanding of where their proposals stand, ultimately leading to more effective outcomes.
The need for affordable housing solutions has never been greater, and it’s now clear more than ever that communication between developers and municipalities is a necessary part of the solution.
Both parties need to work together to meet the needs of Ontario residents. By improving communication and developing a collaborative approach, both parties can work towards a common goal: addressing the housing crisis in Ontario.
This content is a joint venture between our publication and our partner. We do not endorse any product or service in the article.
