Feds, Ontario reach $357M agreement for affordable housing
![Condos The CN Tower can be seen behind condo's in Toronto's Liberty Village community in Toronto, Ontario on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2020/8/23/condos-1-5075715-1660174294062.jpg)
The federal and Ontario governments have reached an agreement on a national housing strategy that will unlock $357-million for affordable housing after months of negotiations.
The governments announced the news in a joint release on Tuesday morning after Ottawa had initially pledged to withhold funding earmarked for Ontario because it “failed to meet its obligations.”
As part of a bilateral housing agreement signed in 2018, the federal government previously pledged to deliver funding if the province reached a target of 19,660 new affordable housing units by the end of 2028.
Officials previously noted that the province was greatly behind on their goal, with an anticipated 1,184 new units by the end of 2024-2025.
In March, Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser expressed concern in a letter to his provincial counterpart, noting that it is “not realistic” for the province to reach 94 per cent of its target in the next three years.
“I cannot accept an Action Plan that demands funding for affordable housing that will never be built,” Fraser wrote at the time.
Yet on Tuesday, the impasse appeared to be cleared after Ontario submitted a revised action plan.
“Canada and Ontario recognize that our collaboration is imperative to solving the housing crisis,” the joint release stated.
The province says the revamped plan provides more robust data and insights on which housing projects currently get provincial funding. Other measures include: establishing provincial supply targets with service managers, directing funding toward new projects, setting annual goals, and implementing reporting mechanisms.
In order to secure continued federal funding, Ontario is pledging to submit another action plan for 2025-2028 by Dec. 31.
“Solving the housing crisis requires a Team Canada approach. We will continue to work together, along with our municipal partners, to make sure the people of Ontario have the homes they need,” the release concluded.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976871.1721873052!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: Wildfire reaches townsite
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park has reached the townsite.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.