The Ontario government’s new initiative, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, aims to significantly reduce bureaucratic hurdles to accelerate the development of housing in the province. The proposed legislation targets various areas that have historically delayed housing projects, such as lengthy permit and licensing processes, and aims to streamline these to aid quicker and more cost-effective construction.
Key features of this initiative include:
- Service Standards: A proposed regulation to establish clear service standards for government ministries involved in permitting and licensing, improving predictability for businesses regarding the timeframes for receiving decisions.
- Reducing Regulatory Burdens: Measures to lessen the regulatory load on utility projects and other infrastructure developments which are essential for supporting new housing projects.
- Faster Housing Development: The legislation aims to cut red tape that has been a barrier for municipalities and homebuilders, focusing on speeding up approvals and supporting municipalities in making localized decisions to build homes where it makes sense for their communities.
- Economic and Infrastructure Support: Besides targeted housing measures, the package includes substantial investments in housing-related infrastructure, leveraging powers for mayors to speed up local approvals, and initiatives like the Transit-Oriented Communities Program to foster development around transit hubs.
- Financial Incentives: Financial tools such as the elimination of provincial sales tax on purpose-built rentals and substantial funding for municipal infrastructure are also part of the plan to spur more residential developments.
Charmaine Williams, MPP for Brampton Centre, has actively supported the Spring 2024 Red Tape Reduction Package, a key initiative aimed at cutting through bureaucratic delays to facilitate faster home construction in Ontario. According to Williams, this legislation is crucial for “building homes faster at a lower cost” and “providing municipalities and builders with greater certainty to get homes built faster.” By endorsing these measures, Williams emphasizes the package’s potential to prioritize infrastructure for ready-to-go housing projects and improve service delivery, making it easier for Ontarians to have quicker access to more housing options.
These steps are part of Ontario’s broader goal to build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031, addressing the urgent need for more housing in the province and aiming to make housing more accessible and affordable through a streamlined, efficient process.