Ontario Government Extends Deadline for Submissions of Municipal Housing Pledges in Response to Feedback from Municipalities

My office recently received a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), the Hon. Steve Clark, outlining the Province has extended the deadline for submissions of municipal housing pledges in response to feedback they received from municipalities.A copy of the letter is available via the link or below.

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February 13, 2023Subject: Municipal Housing Targets and Municipal Housing Pledges - City of Burlington: 29,000Dear Mayor Meed Ward,I would like to congratulate you on your re-election in City of Burlington last fall. With last year’s municipal and provincial elections now behind us, Ontarians are counting on us to work together productively and build a relationship of trust that delivers for the people we represent.The lack of housing supply has become one of the defining issues in Ontario today, and I know it was just as prevalent in last year’s municipal elections as it was for those of us on the provincial level.Our government is taking bold and transformative action to get 1.5 million homes built by 2031.That’s why, last October, our government introduced our More Homes Built Faster Plan. The plan contains practical measures that will have a real impact on our communities, reduce costs for homebuyers, and encourage the development of more housing supply.These measures included municipal housing targets and pledges. While municipalities have taken significant steps in increasing the housing supply, our government requires a commitment from our municipal partners to take extra effort in providing housing for future population growth.To implement the 1.5 million homes target, large and fast-growing municipalities, including yours, are being assigned a Municipal Housing Target. Via your municipal Clerk in last October, I asked the City of Burlington to demonstrate your commitment to accelerating housing supply by developing a Municipal Housing Pledge and taking the necessary steps to facilitate the construction of 29,000 new homes in your community by 2031.I would like to inform you that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is extending the deadline for the submission of municipal housing pledges from March 1, 2023, to March 22, 2023, in response to requests from some of our municipal partners.As I stated in my previous letter, pledges will provide important information that showcases the strategies and actions that municipalities choose to adopt in order to prioritize and accelerate housing. Our government intends to use your pledges to monitor and track progress so we can continue to play a role in supporting municipalities and removing barriers to housing development.We are committed to addressing the policy and implementation barriers you may encounter as you develop your pledges.I look forward to working together to increase housing supply for all Ontarians.Sincerely,Steve ClarkMinisterc: Kate Manson-Smith, Deputy MinisterRyan Amato, Chief of Staff, Minister’s OfficeMichael Parsa, Associate Minister of HousingJoshua Paul, Assistant Deputy Minister, Housing DivisionSean Fraser, Assistant Deputy Minister, Planning and Growth DivisionWendy Ren, Executive Lead, Municipal Policy/Program CollaborationTim Commisso, City ManagerKevin Arjoon, Clerk