The provincial government’s Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 was a topic of much discussion Tuesday evening as Brant County Council sat for the first time following the October 24 municipal election.
Councilor Steve Howes told council that while Bill 23 does include some incentives toward the creation of affordable and attainable housing and rentals, the proposed new municipal housing targets do not seem to specify housing types.
“My fear is that the province’s approach to solving the housing crisis – that the types of houses being built at $800,000 to $900,000 to $1 million – is not helping the people who really need the help.”
Howes said he doesn’t see anything in Bill 23 that points towards modest housing for first-time home buyers, or seniors who want to downsize.
Pam Duesling, general manager of development services at the County of Brant told council that her understanding of the current wording in Bill 23 is that affordable housing is defined as rent no greater than 80 per cent of the average market rent.
She cited 2022 figures for average market rates in Brantford-Brant for a studio or bachelor apartment at $1,116 per month, meaning 80 per cent would be $893.
“CMHC usually talks about affordable housing as not market rent but as households not having to pay more than 30 per cent of their gross income for housing costs,” said Duesling. “I believe it’s a little unreasonable to think that the affordable housing crisis will be saved by the private sector.
“Ture affordable housing is developed with partnerships between federal, provincial and municipal governments, non-profits, co-operatives, charitable organizations and other agencies.”
Howes also raised concerns over Bill 23 resulting in significant municipal costs related to growth coming from the wallets of taxpayers rather than the wallets of developers.
Duesling’s report to council indicated that proposed changes to the Development Charges Act under Bill 23 would exempt affordable and attainable housing from development charges. That would impact the County of Brant by as much as $15.7 million over five years.
Deadlines for municipalities to comment on Bill 23’s proposed legislative and regulatory changes range from November 24 to December 30.
Howes said council should be sending a stronger message to the province rather than requesting an extension to the commenting period for review, while councilor John Bell wondered if Brant County council’s voice was enough.
“(I wonder) whether it shouldn’t be an AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) or ROMA (Rural Ontario Municipal Association) voice that builds on hundreds of municipalities that have the same concern as we and Waterloo have,” said Bell. “It has to be part of something bigger to make the government shift in its position.”