Wynne Liberals continue to fail families struggling to put a roof over their head: NDP

In question period on Tuesday, Toronto-Danforth NDP MPP Peter Tabuns said that Kathleen Wynne missed the opportunity to ease the affordable housing crisis, choosing instead to place developers ahead of everyday families.

“Families are being priced out of their neighbourhoods and many have lost hope that they can afford to raise their children in the communities they call home,” said Tabuns. “Premier Wynne had the opportunity to ease this affordable housing crisis with inclusionary zoning and set aside an adequate number of residential developments to become affordable housing, but instead the premier decided to cap the number of affordable units to just five per cent – compared to the 30 per cent recommended by experts.”

In the final days of 2017, Kathleen Wynne quietly revealed long-awaited inclusionary zoning regulations—setting aside a portion of residential developments to be affordably-priced homes—but Wynne’s toothless proposal let Ontario families down. Rental units were excluded and the number of affordable units allowed to be created was capped at just five per cent in most cases. Wynne catered to developers by forcing municipalities to pay 40 per cent of the costs for affordable units.

Following Wynne’s announcement, 60 housing and poverty advocacy organizations called for major changes to the regulations.

“Only New Democrats are committed to strengthening inclusionary zoning and repairing our crumbling social housing units,” said Tabuns. “Toronto families need action on affordable housing now, not more developer friendly regulations from a government that continues to let us down.”

“Will the minister commit to removing the cap on affordable housing units now, so that Toronto’s families can have an affordable place to live?”