DiNovo's bill could solve Ontario's housing crisis

Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo's private member's bill amending the Planning Act to allow for inclusionary housing received a unanimous vote on its second reading late last month.

If passed, the piece of legislation could potentially create hundreds of affordable housing units across the province. DiNovo called it a "simple bill."

"It's a piece of the puzzle, but a significant piece of the puzzle," she said.

Debated in the Ontario legislature Sept. 24, Bill 198 would allow municipalities to require developers to include a set percentage of affordable units in their new projects or to make a comparable financial contribution to affordable housing.

"Developers have a responsibility to the communities they build in," said the NDP Housing Critic. "Allowing municipal governments to set a minimum requirement for affordable units in apartments or condominiums is a low-cost way to provide Ontarians with badly needed access to lower-cost housing."

It's a win-win for both developers and buyers, said DiNovo.

"In a down market, it's good for developers because you have a real mixed community," she said. "And, it allows people to own their own home."

Instead of having a housing development comprised completely of tenants on social assistance, inclusionary housing allows for a high-end condominium complex where both people with high and low incomes live, she said.

"It adds to the community, it doesn't detract," she said.

Inclusionary zoning is commonplace in other parts of the world. It has been implemented throughout the United States as well as London, England and Vancouver.

"Inclusionary housing policies are a practical, effective method to deliver thousands of affordable homes and are already being used by literally hundreds of U.S. municipalities," says Michael Shapcott, Director of Affordable Housing at the Wellesley Institute, in a statement.

The Wellesley Institute supported DiNovo in her tabling of the bill. Bill 198 has passed its first hurdle, a second reading. Now, it must go to the standing committee for further study and debate.

DiNovo said she hopes the bill is taken seriously. There are 130,000 households on waiting lists, some who are waiting as long as 21 years, said DiNovo.