Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), released the following statement as the Government of Ontario introduced its latest round of housing legislation:
“We welcome many of the measures proposed in the bill introduced yesterday, several of which we have long advocated for, including reducing red tape and streamlining development approval processes, increasing gentle densification, and incentivizing inclusionary zoning and affordable housing development. Access to affordable housing is critical for businesses to attract and retain talent in the province.
“We applaud the Province’s commitment to tackle the housing affordability crisis through gentle density, which protects against the environmental impacts of urban sprawl. We also encourage the government to continue looking for opportunities to better utilize existing settlement areas and minimize disruption to natural assets and agricultural lands that help safeguard sustainable growth over the short- and long-term. To achieve these ambitious targets, it will be important to apply a regional lens in developing appropriate housing supply across Ontario and to continue supporting skilled workforce development strategies and increased economic immigration.”
Over the coming months, the OCC will be hosting a series of targeted regional consultations to identify key challenges and formulate policy recommendations to improve housing affordability in Ontario. Through this, we aim to highlight innovative solutions that will bolster Ontario’s economy and support inclusive growth.
