NDP requests FAO to review Ontario’s progress in getting more homes built

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Shadow Minister for Finance Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) and Shadow Minister for Housing Catherine McKenney (Ottawa Centre) wrote a letter to Financial Accountability Officer Jeffrey Novak, requesting a review of the Government’s work to spur the construction of private-market housing in Ontario. The letter comes after the Financial Accountability Office’s latest report revealed historically low housing starts in Ontario.

“Too many renters are living in housing that is too expensive and doesn’t meet their needs. New housing construction starts are at their lowest level since 2007, well below what is required to meet our province’s housing supply target of 1.5 million homes over the next decade,” the MPPs wrote.

“To strengthen Ontario against economic threats and uncertainty, we need to attract and keep a talented and skilled workforce. But workers look elsewhere when they can’t afford to rent or buy a home to raise a family. We need to get more shovels in the ground and fix our housing affordability crisis,” said Bell.

McKenney added, “An assessment of what the Government has done and could do would tell us what they’re getting wrong and what needs to be done instead."