Ontario appoints nine people to task force that will deal with making homes more affordable
Premier Doug Ford says he has appointed nine people to a task force assigned to address housing affordability in the province so that it’s "easier for more Ontarians to realize the dream of home ownership."
The Housing Affordability Force will be chaired by Jake Lawrence, CEO and Group Head of Global Banking and Markets at Scotiabank, and will publish a report into its findings in early 2022, the government said.
The task force will look into a number of ways Ontario can increase the supply of rental units, as well as homes for ownership.
The government said the task force will look into ways they can reduce red tape and accelerate building timelines, while also protecting the need to care for the environment.
"Young families, seniors and all hardworking Ontarians are desperate for housing that meets their needs and budget," Ford said in a statement Monday.
According to the government, the task force represents a "diverse range of experts" in not-for-profit housing, Indigenous housing, real estate, home builders, financial markets and economics.
The Housing Affordability Task Force was first announced as part of the "2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario," the government said.
Housing prices in Ontario, especially the Greater Toronto Area, continue to skyrocket.
The average price of a semi-detached home in Toronto in November 2021 was more than $1.4 million, while a detached home was more than $1.8 million.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Mother's Day movies that pull at ALL the heartstrings
This Mother's Day Weekend, take a look at some of the most emotional movies inspired by moms.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
Wildfire near Fort McMurray more than triples overnight, several evacuation alerts remain in place
The fire burning near Fort McMurray grew from 25 hectares to 5,500 hectares over the weekend.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.