At the reccomendation of Huron County Planner Craig Metzger, South Huron Council identified and prioritized recommendations from the Provincial Housing Taskforce Report at their meeting on Monday (October 2). This comes in response to a letter sent by The Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, urging local Heads of Council to select their top recommendations for future consideration.
The Task Force, in its February 2022 report, outlined a comprehensive set of 74 unique recommendations aimed at addressing the housing supply crisis in Ontario and building 1.5 million homes by 2031. Among these, Huron County Planners narrowed down their top six priorities, which reflect the specific needs of South Huron. These included modernizing the building code, reforming the appeals process, providing loans for housing projects, increased funding for trades, creating rewards for hitting building targets, and implementing a cloud permit system.
During discussions, Councilor Vaughan expressed reservations about the restriction of the appeals process, emphasizing the importance of ensuring public access. She said that the province had already restricted access to appeals.
She also suggested that in their letter to the Minister of Housing that they highlight achievements in South Huron’s housing initiatives.
Councilor Neeb welcomed the efforts to remove barriers to affordable construction and mentioned discussions with the Minister of Housing at the Associations of Municipalities of Ontario this past summer.
Councilor Oke agreed and underscored the need for local influence in planning subdivisions, and motivating developers to hit targets.
CAO Rebekah Msuya-Collison inquired about grant applications and funding for development, highlighting the potential for South Huron to benefit from e-permitting funding – although they already have a cloud system in place.
Ultimately, the council decided to identify all recommendations except changes to the appeals process and directed staff to compile a cover letter detailing their efforts to expedite housing initiatives in South Huron. The reccomendations to the province will be submitted by October 16, 2023.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
