VICTORIA — A local governance think tank says municipalities across Canada face housing development constraints that could be eased through more co-operation between all levels of government.
The report from the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance at the University of Toronto examines what researchers say would be the ideal role for local governments to approve and develop more social, rental and affordable housing that is increasingly needed in Canada’s city regions.
Specifically mentioned are Victoria’s and Langford’s 100 per cent tax exemption to non-profit affordable housing projects for 10 years.
“While it is not a property tax exemption for the life of the building, the costs savings still enable projects in those municipalities to stabilize rents, maintain greater levels of affordability, and reduce the project’s overall debt load over those 10 years,” the report says.
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The report, which is part of a two-year project looking at the role of municipalities in climate change, economic development, law enforcement and housing, suggested a series of municipal housing reforms and calls for more collaboration with the federal and provincial governments.
Prof. Carolyn Whitzman, a University of Ottawa housing and social policy expert, says policy changes ranging from requiring municipal governments to approve more multi-housing developments to introducing provincial policies that make more government land available for housing could help the problem.
She says she is watching this week’s federal budget for the possibility of more funding for affordable housing initiatives.
The report also calls for increased funding from the federal and provincial governments for housing programs to end homelessness.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 5, 2022.
The Canadian Press
