Ford announces deep cuts to affordable housing

QUEEN’S PARK — Suze Morrison, Ontario NDP Housing critic, said it’s simply wrong for Doug Ford to make deep cuts to affordable housing at a time when so many families are struggling under the weight of sky-high housing costs.

The Ford Conservatives’ announcement Wednesday guts funding for affordable housing by 20 per cent. Ford is allocating much less than the $1.25 billion budgeted for affordable housing last year, and less than the $1.13 billion spent on the affordable housing program in 2017-18.

“Doug Ford’s cruel cut to affordable housing will push even more Ontarians into precarious situations as rents continue to rise out of reach,” said Morrison. “Families should not have to choose between keeping a roof over their head and putting food on the table.

“The Liberals let Ontarians down by letting the waitlist for affordable housing balloon. The Conservatives are making things so much worse by cutting funding for affordable housing and removing rent control on new units.”

Today’s announcement comes following the revelation that the Ford Conservatives are cutting the Ministry of Municipal Housing and Affairs budget by $366 million — or 25 per cent — this year.

“We should be investing more in affordable housing, not less,” said Morrison.