Majority support expanding infrastructure to support more housing – poll

New public opinion research by IPSOS, released by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), demonstrates that 71 per cent of those surveyed agree with expanding municipal boundaries to enable more housing to be built at the periphery of GTA municipalities. Similarly, 78 per cent of those surveyed support the building of more roads and highways to support residents and growth in the GTA.

“It is not a question of choosing between building more homes to accommodate a growing population and protecting the environment,” says Dave Wilkes, president and CEO of BILD. “While those opposed to taking the necessary steps to accommodate the GTA’s present and future growth like to present these as stark ‘either-or’ decisions, the reality is that with modern land development, building techniques and regulatory requirements, we know it is possible to balance both.”

Clear disconnect

The survey found that less than half of GTA residents (44 per cent) are aware of the regulatory framework that governs the environmental aspects of building new homes and that only one-third of GTA residents (35 per cent) felt that building a new housing community is bad for the environment. When these groups were made aware of the regulatory requirements and industry environmental practices, more than a third were less likely to believe building homes harms the environment, and this rose to more than half when informed of the energy efficiency of new homes.

“There is a clear disconnect between perception and reality,” says Sean Simpson, senior vice-president, Ipsos Public Affairs. “The majority of GTA residents clearly favour the addition of more housing supply and transportation infrastructure. Of the minority who believe that building homes is bad for the environment, a large percentage (56 per cent) are not aware of the regulations and practices already in place to protect the environment, and many report that their opinion shifts when presented with the facts.”

The research found that a majority of GTA residents (92 per cent) agree that we are in the middle of a housing affordability crisis. Four in five also agree that we are in the middle of a housing shortage crisis (81 per cent) and that we must balance environmental regulation with the need to build more homes quicker (81 per cent). However, local opposition to adding housing supply within existing communities remains strong, with more than half (55 per cent) of residents opposing the construction of a highrise condo within a half-km of their residence, and slightly less than half (47 per cent) of residents opposing a midrise building within a half-km of their residence.

Almost unanimous agreement

“There is almost unanimous agreement that the GTA is suffering from a housing supply and affordability crisis and that adding supply is the solution,” says Wilkes. “This must be done by adding gentle density in existing communities and enabling new, denser, more land-efficient development at the peripheries of GTA municipalities.”

“This research demonstrates to our leaders that the public supports the idea that growth and environmental protection can be balanced. By taking action now, a legacy can be created to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population and preserve our collective quality of life.”