Barrie should be getting funding help from the province to build toward its new housing targets.
Premier Doug Ford announced earlier this week that Ontario municipalities which meet at least 80 per cent of their yearly provincial housing targets will get a slice of the new $1.2-billion Building Faster Fund, along with bonuses if they exceed 100 per cent of their targets.
“We are thankful to the province for its commitment to supporting municipalities in achieving their housing targets,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. “The allocation of resources is a positive step toward addressing housing needs, and this funding will undoubtedly aid our efforts to get a variety of homes built in the city of Barrie.”
Just how much funding remains unknown, though.
“At this point, we don’t have all the details on how the funding mechanisms will work and how the funds can be used,” said Craig Millar, the city’s chief financial officer. “We look forward to learning more details about this funding.”
Ford said the funding will start flowing in 2024 and last for three years. Municipalities will get a slice of the $400-million annual fund based on how much of the provincial housing target they represent.
Barrie city council pledged earlier this year to a target of 23,000 new homes built by 2031, in addition to what’s already planned. The pledge is a requirement of Bill 23, the province’s More Homes Built Faster Act of 2022 and its goal of 1.5 million new homes in Ontario by 2031.
Ford said his government is aiming for 110,000 new housing starts in 2023. Ontario hit 99,000 starts in 2021, the highest number in more than 30 years, but dipped to 96,000 in 2022.
The province will need to average 150,000 starts per year in the decade starting from 2021 to hit the government's target of 1.5 million new homes.
Council’s pledge divides Barrie’s housing target into five areas, the largest being 19,180 units based on demographic trends, from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs forecast for allocation of growth for this city.
Collaborating with development industry partners is expected to yield 3,900 housing units, second and third suites another 1,800 units, the New Foundations program (on church, place-of-worship, institutional properties) for 1,500 units, and 1,400 units by re-examining existing development approvals. This totals 27,780 new homes, well above Barrie’s target of 23,000.
But city councillors have had concerns about how Barrie can meet its housing targets, and what the bill will be for infrastructure.
Council passed a direct motion in late 2022, for example, to request the province fund the $250-million expansion of the city's wastewater treatment facility, to aid Barrie in meeting the housing targets outlined by the Ontario government in the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022.
The province’s answer is unknown, or even if the city received an answer.
Nuttall also has so-called 'strong mayor' powers to help him move the housing needle, if need be.
Granted to mayors by the Ford government, they include a veto on council decisions conflicting with provincial priorities such as housing, transit and infrastructure - although a two-thirds majority of council can override the mayor’s veto.
These powers include allowing mayors to propose housing-related bylaws and pass them with the support of one-third of councillors, as well as override council approval of bylaws, such as a zoning bylaw, that would stall home construction.
Strong mayors can also prepare and table their city's budget, instead of council, and hire and fire department heads.
