Niagara Region appreciates…

Niagara Region appreciates the Province’s commitment to providing more housing across Ontario. Niagara Region has long been committed to this goal as demonstrated through various Regional housing initiatives and our new Niagara Official Plan. There are many opportunities to continue to support and improve on the creation of housing in Niagara and to contribute to the goal of building 1.5 million new homes across the Province. However, Niagara Region is concerned that some of the foundational changes proposed through Bill 23 particularly as they relate to municipal development charges and the Planning Act will result in unintended consequences that will prevent the Province, in collaboration with the municipalities, from achieving the desired housing outcomes.

With a focus on recommendations and potential solutions, the Region’s comments attached relate to the following matters:
-• Financial sustainability and growth-related infrastructure funding;
-• Provision of affordable housing;
-• Supporting growth through integrated land use and infrastructure planning;
-• Coordinated development planning; and
-• Protection of resources.