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    Strengthen Ontario’s Provincial Policy Statement as one tool to meet the province’s housing needs

    The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is undertaking a review of the Provincial Policy Statement on land use and planning.  A strengthened Provincial Policy Statement can be an important tool for communities across the province to ensure all Ontarians have access to a healthy and affordable home.

    Read the Wellesley Institute submission to the review.

    Submission to the review can be made until October 29, 2010.  Please consider writing your own submission or sending a letter of support for the Wellesley Institute submission.

    Submission may be sent to

    Provincial Policy Statement Review
    Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
    Provincial Planning Policy Branch
    777 Bay St., 14th Floor
    Toronto, ON M5G 2E5

    If you make a submission or write a letter please send a copy to

    Michael Shapcott, Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation
    The Wellesley Institute
    45 Charles Street East, #101
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 1S2
    michael@wellesleyinstitute.com

    Inclusionary Housing Bill Passes Second Reading in Ontario Legislature

    On Thursday, June 3,  Bill 58, Planning Amendment Act (Enabling Municipalities to Require Inclusionary Housing), 2010 passed second reading in the Ontario legislature and referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

    This bill was the same as one that was introduced in the Legislature last fall and needed to come forward again after the new session was started this spring.  The purpose of the bill is to amend the Planning Act to allow municipalities to introduce Inclusionary Housing By-Laws and programs.

    The content of the bill can be read here.

    The Hansard debate on Bill 58 can be read here.

    A list of the MPPs who voted in favour of the bill can be read here.

    Response to Canadian Home Builders Association report

    In 2008, the Canadian Home Builders Association commissioned Altus Clayton to write a report that is very critical of Inclusionary Housing.  This report has been used as the basis for arguments that municipalities should not use IH policies to try to increase the supply of affordable housing.

    The Wellesley Institute commissioned David Rusk, a leading American expert on Inclusionary Housing, to examine this report and look at the counter-arguments in favour of using this tool.  Richard Drdla, the leading Canadian expert, has also written a paper that examines the many flaws in the Altus Clayton report.

    Altus Clayton Report

    David Rusk Critique

    Richard Drdla Critique