STOUFVILLE: Premier Doug Ford took part in breaking ground for new rental homes in Stoufville Meadows in York Region.
Ford said: “Previous governments refused to build the housing we needed, and the dream of home ownership slipped away from a generation of Ontarians. We won’t delay doing what’s needed. We’re getting shovels in the ground for more supportive and purpose-built housing now.”
Ford was accompanied by Steve Clark, MPP Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes; Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Michael Parsa, Member of Provincial Parliament for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill and Associate Minister of Housing and Paul Calandra, MPP for Markham-Stouffville. Minister of Long-Term Care. Minister of Legislative Affairs. Government House Leader.
Minister Parsa said: “ For too long, our next generation has been frozen out of home ownership. We’re changing that and getting homes built.”
Minister Clark said: “ I was happy to join Premier Ford, Michael Parsa and Paul Calandra at the at the Stouffville Meadows site.
This project will be home to 250 purpose built rentals for local residents. “Our government will continue to help get shovels in the ground to build homes faster for Ontarians.
Last month, Paul Chiang, Member of Parliament for Markham – Unionville, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion, alongside Steve Clark, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Michael Parsa, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Housing, and Paul Calandra, MPP for Markham – Stouffville along with Wayne Emmerson, Chair and CEO, Regional Municipality of York, and Iain Lovatt, Mayor of Whitchurch – Stouffville, marked the ground-breaking of a new housing development at 5676 Main Street.
Through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) and Investment in Affordable Housing – Extension (IAH – E) programs funded by the federal and provincial governments, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario invested nearly $4.8 million and $6.4 million, respectively, to support the creation of nearly 100 homes for families, individuals, and seniors living in Stouffville.
Owned and operated by York Region, the Stouffville Affordable Housing apartment complex will offer one, two, and three-bedroom units. Construction is expected to begin this summer, and the building will be ready to welcome residents in 2023.
Parsa said at the time: “A house isn’t just four walls and a roof — it’s a home, where we raise our families and build our futures. Through historic investments in the Social Services Relief Fund and Community Housing Renewal Strategy, our government’s plan to build more affordable homes is working. We’ll continue working with our federal and municipal partners toget shovels in the ground to keep building Ontario.”
Paul Calandra said: “Building affordable housing is an important part of our government’s plan to help all Ontarians find a home that meets their needs and keeps costs down. This investment, in partnership with the federal government, will offer more families the choice to make Stouffville their home, while helping them keep more of their hard-earned money for life’s essentials.”
• The Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $72 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home. This includes funding towards the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI).
• OPHI provides flexible funding to address local housing priorities and improve access to affordable housing options. The initiative helps to increase affordable housing supply and improve the state of repair of community housing stock. This project is receiving $3.6 million in joint federal and provincial funding.
• OPHI is a program under the CMHC – Ontario Bilateral Agreement. This 10-year agreement provides more than $5.75 billion to protect, renew and expand community housing, support Ontario’s priorities related to housing repair, construction and and affordability, and deliver affordability support to Ontarians.
• The Province has provided over $1.2 billion through the Social Services Relief Fund, to help municipal service managers and Indigenous program administrators create longer-term housing solutions and help vulnerable Ontarians, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This is one of the biggest investments made in affordable housing and homelessness supports in the province’s history. The Regional Municipality of York has been allocated over $50 million through this fund.
• Ontario has allocated $4.4 billion over the past three years as part of its Community Housing Renewal Strategy and response to COVID-19 to help and grow community housing and help end homelessness. This includes the Social Services Relief Fund.
