Ontario Budget Supports Housing Supply Action Plan Builders Welcome Provincial Budget that Focuses on Housing Supply and Red Tape Reduction
Toronto, April 11, 2019 — The Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) welcomes the new Provincial Government 2019 budget entitled, “Protecting What Matters Most”. The budget builds on a number of announcements made since the PC government was elected last summer to improve business confidence such as commitments to wind down the Ontario College of Trades and lower WSIB premium rates. The 2019 budget places an emphasis on cutting red tape and streamlining approvals through the upcoming Housing Supply Action Plan that will address the barriers getting in the way of creating new housing supply and choice in communities across Ontario.
“This government recognizes that more homes equals better affordability,“ said Joe Vaccaro, CEO, OHBA. “By cutting red tape, the government is taking a practical approach to creating more housing supply and choice by bringing new housing to the market faster.”
The Ontario budget invests significantly in transit and transportation with a commitment to move forward with a new kind of partnership with the private sector to optimize the use of government-owned land and increase transit ridership.
“The Ontario Home Builders’ Association welcomes the historic investments the provincial budget is making to expand transit in communities across Ontario. Builders look forward to working in partnership with the provincial government to adopt a market-driven approach to transit-oriented development and creating new housing supply and commercial centres,” said Joe Vaccaro, CEO OHBA.
OHBA launched the #homebeliever campaign in spring 2018 before the provincial election to engage the government about the importance of the great Canadian dream of home ownership. The campaign successfully served as a conversation starter with over 100 provincial candidates signing the pledge and 59 MPPs representing all 4 political parties sitting as #homebelievers in today’s Ontario Legislative Assembly.