Ontario Greens table legislation to deliver homes you can afford in communities you love

November 28, 2023

TORONTO — Today Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner will table the Homes You Can Afford in Communities You Love Act, which will amend the Planning Act to allow fourplexes and four story apartments in residential neighbourhoods and mid-rise housing along transit corridors and main streets.

“The Ford government has wasted the past five years failing to address the housing crisis,” said Schreiner. “Meanwhile, Greens have repeatedly called for bold solutions to build more homes people can afford in communities they know and love.

“Today, we’re continuing to push for those solutions – starting with removing barriers to the construction of new supply within existing neighbourhoods.”

There is overwhelming consensus among planning experts that there is plenty of room to build more than 1.5 million homes within existing urban boundaries, on land already approved for development.
“We need to legalise housing,” said Schreiner, “and build where people, especially young people, want to live – in connected communities close to jobs, family, shops and transit.

“Ontario Greens have been the leading voice on ending exclusionary zoning – saying Yes In My Backyard and no to expensive sprawl.”

The Homes You Can Afford in Communities You Love Act proposes amendments to the Planning Act that if passed will:

• Allow for fourplexes and four story buildings in neighbourhoods as of right;
• Allow for mid-rise housing ranging from six to 11 storeys on major streets, including transit corridors.

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