WHEREAS housing has never been more expensive to rent or buy in Ontario;
WHEREAS both private developers and non-profit providers have noted that without access to free land creating new rental housing is increasingly difficult due to high development costs, and creating affordable rental housing is nearly impossible;
WHEREAS it is more cost effective for Ontario and non-profit providers to build affordable housing than private sector. Access to serviced public land lowers the building costs from 15-30%, particularly in cities, where land is often at a premium;
WHEREAS this investment is cost-effective, will ensure Ontario builds the kind of homes we need at an affordable price, and will create good jobs and economic prosperity for all regions of Ontario;
THEREFORE WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, PETITION THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO AS FOLLOWS:
That the government of Ontario should establish and fund a new public agency called Homes Ontario to finance and build 250,000 new affordable and non-market homes on public land over ten years, to be operated and/or constructed by public, non-profit or co-op housing providers.