The Ontario government is gearing up to introduce new housing legislation this spring to accelerate construction, Housing Minister Rob Flack suggested this Tuesday, as the province faces criticism over its proposal to pause inclusionary zoning rules in Toronto, Mississauga and Kitchener.
“Let’s be blunt, we are in a housing crisis. We’re not getting a lot built,” Flack said in answer to a QP Briefing question. “We’re looking at all avenues to get shovels in the ground faster… stay tuned. We’ve got more things coming. In the spring, legislation to help accelerate getting homes built.”
The comment is one of the clearest signals yet that the Ford government intends to return to the legislature with another round of housing reforms, following weeks of backlash over its proposal to temporarily suspend inclusionary zoning, a policy tool that allows municipalities to require developers to include affordable units in new projects.