Ford’s track record on housing just got even worse

February 15, 2023

GUELPH — Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to reports that Ontario’s annualized housing starts are down 31 percent from 2022 to 71,545 units.

“It comes as no surprise to learn that Doug Ford’s so-called housing plan is failing Ontario.

It has been clear from the start that the Ford government’s “housing” bills have more to do with benefiting land speculators than with building affordable homes. But now the proof is in front of us.

Despite the government’s slew of false claims about the need to sprawl onto the Greenbelt to solve Ontario’s housing crisis, statistics show that 31 per cent fewer homes are getting built this year compared to last year.

Housing starts in Ontario are down to 71,545 units – not even half of the province’s target of 150,000.

Instead of listening to housing experts, Ford has let a handful of wealthy land speculators dictate his government’s housing plan while the housing affordability crisis worsens every day. He has had five years to come up with solutions to get us out of this mess. But new data shows that Ford’s government has Ontario headed in the wrong direction.

The people of Ontario deserve better.

If the government wants to get serious about solving the housing crisis, they should support my Bills 44 and 45, which will permit affordable homes and communities to be built within existing urban boundaries, where land is available and serviceable, and where people want to live.”

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