Industry applauds province for housing-supportive infrastructure

The homebuilding industry applauds the Ontario government for important housing infrastructure announcements released in its recent Fall Economic Statement.

In Building a Strong Ontario Together, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy highlights the province’s economic and fiscal progress and provides important financial supports to address rental housing construction and housing supportive infrastructure.

Vital infrastructure

“We welcome (the) update and applaud the measures the Ford government is taking to accelerate housing supply across Ontario through investment in vital housing supportive infrastructure,” says Dave Depencier, president of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA). “Our industry is on a mission to build at least 1.5 million new homes by 2031. It is crucial that we continue to work together and use all mechanisms possible to meet these ambitious but achievable goals.”

The province reiterated a commitment to remove the HST on purpose-built rental construction. “The specific measures to remove the HST on purpose-built rentals will change the cost equation for many projects and make even more student, seniors and long-term, purpose-built rental projects economically feasible,” says Depencier. “In short, this will get more desperately needed housing built.”

In particular, OHBA applauds two important measures related to municipal infrastructure that were announced. A $200-million fund for water and waste-water infrastructure and the creation of a new Ontario Infrastructure Bank, with an initial investment of $3 billion.

Championing policy

“Many municipalities have significant water infrastructure servicing constraints that are delaying the delivery of new homes, so we’re thrilled to see the additional investment of $200 million for water and waste-water infrastructure, and we’ll be looking closely at the details of the new Ontario Infrastructure Bank to see what it can do to help accelerate critical housing supportive infrastructure,” adds OHBA Interim CEO Neil Rodgers.

To safeguard Ontario’s status as the economic powerhouse of Canada and meet the needs of our rapidly growing population, it is imperative to expedite the supply and choice of housing across the province, OHBA says. This will be done by limiting the burden of costs added to new home construction in the form of government fees, taxes and charges, reducing red tape, ensuring we have the labour force ready to build, investing in critical housing supportive infrastructure and championing policy that recognizes Ontarians need more supply and choices for their housing needs.