Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward expresses frustration as the city is deemed ineligible for funding from Ontario's Building Faster Fund due to the metric used to determine eligibility. The mayor argues that the number of permits approved should be considered instead of the number of foundations poured.
Burlington Mayor Frustrated Over Ineligibility for Ontario's Building Faster Fund
( Credit to: Chch )
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward is expressing her frustration with the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing after being informed that the city is not eligible to receive funding from the province's Building Faster Fund. The fund, established last year, aims to provide financial support to municipalities that meet their annual housing targets.
Meed Ward argues that the metric used by the province to determine eligibility, which is based on the number of foundations poured, is not an accurate reflection of the city's efforts. She explains that while the city issues permits and approvals for housing projects, it has no control over the actual construction process, including pouring foundations.
The province measures a municipality's housing targets through "housing starts," a stage in building defined as when the concrete has been poured for the footing of the structure. However, Meed Ward believes this definition is unfair and suggests that the number of permits approved should be considered instead.
Different Perspectives on Measuring Housing Progress
According to Meed Ward, Burlington has a significant number of housing projects in its pipeline, with over 41,000 units awaiting construction and more than 4,000 units already approved. She highlights that the city has been focusing on in-fill, high-density, and complex developments, which naturally take time to complete.
On the other hand, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra asserts that permits alone do not guarantee progress in housing development. He emphasizes the importance of seeing "shovels in the ground" and actual construction taking place. Calandra believes that the number of housing starts is a more accurate measure of progress than permits.
Availability of Funding and Alternative Solutions
Premier Ford recently announced that any remaining funds from the Building Faster Fund would be available for municipalities that failed to meet their housing targets, including Burlington. However, Meed Ward claims that there is no money left in the fund, as it has already been distributed to municipalities that had applications in progress before the fund was established.
Calandra suggests that if Burlington requires additional assistance to meet its targets, they should explore other reasons why they are falling behind. He mentions that any leftover funds will be allocated towards infrastructure that supports housing.
Conclusion
Overall, Meed Ward and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing have differing opinions on how to measure housing progress and eligibility for funding. While Meed Ward argues that the number of permits should be considered, Calandra insists on focusing on actual construction and housing starts. The issue highlights the challenges faced by municipalities in meeting housing targets and accessing funding for development projects.