Creating Affordable Housing by Harnessing the Power of Private Development
Inclusionary housing programs are municipal programs that rely upon the development regulations and approval process to have private developers provide some portion of the housing within their new market projects as affordable housing.
This website has been created to assist community members, activists, government planners, policy makes and housing developers to gain a better appreciation of Inclusionary Housing as a policy and program tool to increase the supply of affordable housing in our neighbourhoods and communities.
On Thursday, June 3, Bill 58, Planning Amendment Act (Enabling Municipalities to Require Inclusionary Housing), 2010 passed second reading in the Ontario legislature and referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.
This bill was the same as one that was introduced in the Legislature last fall and needed to come forward again after the new session was started this spring. The purpose of the bill is to amend the Planning Act to allow municipalities to introduce Inclusionary Housing By-Laws and programs.
The content of the bill can be read here.
The Hansard debate on Bill 58 can be read here.
A list of the MPPs who voted in favour of the bill can be read here.
In 2008, the Canadian Home Builders Association commissioned Altus Clayton to write a report that is very critical of Inclusionary Housing. This report has been used as the basis for arguments that municipalities should not use IH policies to try to increase the supply of affordable housing.
The Wellesley Institute commissioned David Rusk, a leading American expert on Inclusionary Housing, to examine this report and look at the counter-arguments in favour of using this tool. Richard Drdla, the leading Canadian expert, has also written a paper that examines the many flaws in the Altus Clayton report.
Altus Clayton Report
David Rusk Critique
Richard Drdla Critique
Cheri Di Novo, MPP for Parkdale High Park, has re-introduced her bill on Inclusionary Housing that was not dealt with by the last session of the Ontario Legislature. This bill is now re-numbered as Bill 58.
As with the old bill, this bill would amend the Planning Act to provide municipalities with the authority to create Inclusionary Housing policies. The text of the bill is provided on the Ontario Legislature web site.
This bill will go to second reading in early June. People who support Inclusionary Housing should contact their MPPs and urge them to vote for this bill so that it can proceed to committee hearings.
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