RELATED: Ontario Premier Doug Ford is shutting down efforts to introduce fourplexes in neighbourhoods across the province, calling the policy a “massive mistake” that would raise the ire of residents living in traditional single-family suburbs. Global News' Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello reports – Mar 21, 2024As politicians duke it out over the terms of federal housing money in Ontario, behind the scenes some are hoping a deal can be made.
The condition is one Ontario Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly ruled out, talking about the backlash politicians who introduce too much density to the suburbs would face. Fraser told Calandra there was an “urgent need” for Ontario to revise its outline of how it planned to spend federal money for affordable housing. Under the National Housing Strategy Action Plan, initially signed in 2018, the province has to show how it will spend federal dollars to expand affordable housing.Ontario’s plan to do that, according to Fraser’s letter, was a “disappointment” and would lead to the province losing $357 million in federal money.
Calandra’s office told Global News on Tuesday, April 2, that the federal government had “decided not to accept” its proposal under the deal. Announcing the funding, the federal government said it would come with binding conditions that lower levels of government must adhere to in order to qualify for the cash.One of the conditions set out by the Prime Minister’s Office is that provinces must “require municipalities” to accept four units as-of-right and allow more “missing middle” housing, including duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and multi-unit apartments.