The Province is turning up the pressure on meeting housing targets, and Halton Hills Council is feeling it.
At their Sept. 18 meeting, council members were told by staff that the Town is falling behind on meeting annual housing targets.
“We are at a disadvantage as of right now on an annualized basis,” Commissioner of Planning and Sustainability John Linhardt said in answering a question from Councillor Clark Somerville.
The government of Premier Doug Ford has imposed a target of 9,500 new homes for the community by 2031. Doing the math, Linhardt estimated that the Town would have to build roughly 1,055 homes per year, if they were to start in 2023.
The mayor and councillors felt comfortable about meeting those targets due to Vision Georgetown. It's a plan to create mixed-use, dense housing and amenities on 1,000 acres of land for 19,000 residents and 1,700 jobs.
However, staff brought forward some sobering facts. Chief Administrative Officer Chris Mills estimated it's two years before shovels can go into the ground for Vision Georgetown, with construction of actual housing units on the lands not expected until later in 2025.
One key hurdle that needs to be overcome is water servicing. Piping water from Lake Ontario has remained elusive to much of Halton Hills. Halton Region is in the process of constructing water pipes in Georgetown.
“Servicing for Vision Georgetown should be here at some point in the later part of 2025,” Mills said about the water infrastructure. “One of the key constraints for the actual start of construction of housing is that we need operating fire hydrants within the subdivisions to ensure that life safety and property safety are maintained.”
He assured council that, “subject to any correction,” the 2025 date has been “hammered down” with Halton Region.
The goal of 9,500 homes is a piece of the Province’s plan to fast-track 1.5 million homes by 2031. Premier Ford created a $1.2-billion pool of cash that municipalities can get a slice of if they meet 80 per cent of their annual targets. Ford’s government also extended the controversial 'strong mayor' powers to Halton Hills, causing many councillors to come out against it.
In an open letter to mayors across Ontario, new Housing Minister Paul Calandra said he's renewing his efforts to implement the 74 recommendations made by the Housing Affordability Task Force.
The letter goes on to, in essence, ask Mayor Ann Lawlor - and other heads of council like her - to state their position on the recommendations, as well as prioritize their top five recommendations for future consideration. They're asked to return these priorities in the form of a chart by Oct. 16.
“If this chart is not completed in full by Oct. 16, 2023, it will disqualify your municipality from being eligible for the Province's new 1.2-billion Building Faster Fund,” Mayor Ann Lawlor said as she read the letter to council.
Additionally, Lawlor is required to make a pledge in writing to the Province by Oct. 15 to meet the housing targets.
“Welcome to the Gong Show,” Councillor Jane Fogal quipped in council.
Councillor Somerville said he believes the housing targets are “not realistic.”
“Even if we are were looking at Jan. 1, 2026 to start, that’s five years [left],” he said.
He reiterated his distaste for the strong mayor powers and characterized them as unnecessary.
“‘It’s undemocratic,’” he said. “What I really don't like about them is the potential bullying side because the mayor can dismiss a senior head of staff without council consent.”
“The amount of money that can cost the municipality is huge,” he added.
A memo to council presented at the meeting lays out a schedule for next steps.
