On Thursday, Committee of the Whole narrowed down a list of 74 recommendations from Ontario’s Housing Affordability Task Force to the five it feels are the most important in relation to the County.
Housing Minister Paul Calandra has asked all municipalities to provide their top five recommendations that would be, or have been, the most useful in increasing housing supply in their community.
The province has a goal to build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031.
Targets have been given to larger municipalities, with those who achieve them eligible to receive extra subsidies and strong mayor powers.
Belleville is one of those communities but Prince Edward County does not qualify as it is not large enough.
The province has not given smaller communities specific housing targets at this time.
Speaking to committee, County CAO Marcia Wallace said it was a difficult exercise as prior to the meeting, staff chose their own list of priorities and members of council also earmarked the recommendations they were in favour of.
She said there was not a lot of alignment with council members with the exception of a couple of recommendations.
Here are the five recommendations Committee of the Whole agreed on:
- Provide provincial and federal loan guarantees for purpose-built rental, affordable rental and affordable ownership projects (this recommendation received the most support from council and staff).
- Require municipalities to provide the option of pay-on-demand surety bonds and letters of credit.
- a) Prevent abuse of process: remove right of appeal for projects with at least 30% affordable housing in which units are guaranteed affordable for 40 years.
b) Require a $10,000 filing fee for third party appeals.
c) Provide discretion to adjudicators to award full costs to the successful party in any appeal brought by a third party or by a municipality where its council has overridden a recommended staff approval.
- Fund pilot projects that create innovative pathways to home ownership for Black, Indigenous, and marginalized people and first-generation homeowners.
- Improve funding for colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeships, encourage and incentivize municipalities, unions and employers to provide more on-the-job training.
The list of recommendations must still receive final approval at a future meeting of council after which the mayor will send the list to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
