Municipalities and housing advocates are eagerly awaiting what Premier Doug Ford, Housing Minister Steve Clark and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy have set aside for housing in Ontario’s 2023 budget.
Housing affordability and supply are top priorities for Ontario’s municipalities. Executive director for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Brian Rosborough says Ontario’s cities are looking forward to budget day to see how, and if, the impacts of Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, will be addressed.
For one, Bill 23 changed how much municipalities can collect from development charges. These fees, levied against developers, are used to fund infrastructure as more houses are built and cities’ populations grow.