Wayne Gates
Special to The Lake Report

Housing and development are issues on the minds of nearly every resident I speak with.

Growth and affordability are people’s primary concern.

All levels of government are recognizing the rapidly increasing crisis we face as a province and country when it comes to housing. Whether it’s homelessness, rental affordability or home ownership, people are feeling squeezed.

In response, the provincial government passed Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. It’s an approach that I’ve heard many concerns about in town and I can firmly say, I share many of those concerns. 

With that said, it’s important to remember that opposing the approach of this Progressive Conservative government does not mean we are against development. Homes of all shapes and sizes need to be built — that will be a pillar in the plan of addressing the housing crisis in this province.

However, it doesn’t need to be done at the expense of our heritage, environment and farmland.

Bill 23 does not solve the housing crisis in Ontario.

The approach of this government will line the pockets of large developers at the expense of Ontario’s Greenbelt and specifically the cultural and ecological significance of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

There is no denying the beauty of our town. The natural heritage, ecological gems, historic architecture are what draws people here. We should be doing everything in our power to protect that beauty, not pave over it.

Bill 23 makes it easier to remove properties from the heritage register. Properties in Niagara-on-the-Lake that we know and love are at risk of redevelopment. When companies bulldoze, they erase the very history that makes heritage properties so special.

The legislation will also have significant financial consequences for our municipality and regional government with both the loss of development fees and possible increased staffing needs.

Development should pay for development — it shouldn’t be downloaded to municipalities that are already stretched thin.

Even with the negative consequences outlined, it’s hard to see if this approach to residential development will even be successful in meeting housing targets. The Ford government’s own budget noted that the current new build forecast is well below the target of building 1.5 million homes.

A full plan is needed to increase rental housing supply and protect tenants from predatory rent increases. This should be the top priority to address issues such as high demand and affordability challenges.

Rent control should be brought back on all units to ensure new tenants are not subject to sudden or arbitrary rent hikes. Non-market housing should be expanded to provide affordable options for low-income households and those with special needs.

To provide choices for both middle- and lower-income households, diverse housing options should be encouraged in areas where there is a shortage of affordable housing.

A complex issue needs a comprehensive plan to tackle it and the current approach from this government does not stack up.

We cannot pave over the uniqueness of our communities, we cannot pave over prime agricultural land, and we cannot simply rely on tax breaks and deregulation to address our housing crisis. 

I urge this government to listen to the concerns of Niagara-on-the-Lake residents and work with municipalities to create a more sustainable and equitable approach to housing development.

We must ensure that any housing strategy puts people first and does not sacrifice the quality of life and natural beauty of our communities.

Wayne Gates is the New Democrat MPP for Niagara Falls riding.