Stiles’ NDP brings Homes Ontario to Queen’s Park - a solution to get the province back in the business of building housing

QUEEN’S PARK – Homes Ontario, Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP’s solution to get the province back in the business of building housing, will go for debate in Queen’s Park today.

The NDP has tabled a motion in the Legislature that would call for the establishment of a new public agency – Homes Ontario – which would build at least 250,000 new affordable and non-market homes over ten years, to be operated and/or constructed by public, non-profit or co-op housing providers.

“With a housing crisis of this scale, we have to find big solutions that can help people find a home they love in the community they want to live in,” said Stiles. “The Ontario NDP are going to get the province back in the business of building housing with Homes Ontario - and we’re going to do it together, so that everyone in Ontario has a place to call home.”

The Ontario NDP has also been calling for real rent control, an end to exclusionary zoning, clamping down on real estate speculation and more. Today’s announcement is one more step in the NDP’s plan to solve the housing crisis.

Homes Ontario is just the next piece of the comprehensive plan that the Ontario NDP is assembling with the input from housing researchers, trades, labour, municipalities, non-profits, and other stakeholders.

Quotes

MPP Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre), Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Critic

“It’s time to make a big shift when it comes to how we build housing in Ontario. I’m very proud that the Ontario NDP is leading the charge to get the government to resume it’s historic responsibility of building housing.”

MPP Jessica Bell (University—Rosedale), Housing Critic

“A public builder ensures we build homes that meet the needs of Ontarians. Supportive housing, affordable housing, larger apartments for families, accessible homes for people who are downsizing - these are all needs that are not being met by the private sector. They will be built by the public sector.”

MPP Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale—High Park), Affordability Critic

“This motion is a step in the right direction to ensure affordability for Ontarians, who have been left behind for far too long by this government and their nonsense housing policies which wasted more than a year trying to enrich insiders and land speculators.”