STONY
PLAIN, AB, July 15, 2024 /CNW/ - With federal
funding and federal leadership, we are changing how municipalities
let housing get built in their communities. With a greater focus on
higher density housing, and affordable housing, we are going to get
more homes built for Canadians at prices they can afford.
Today, the Government of Canada
and the Town of Stony Plain
announced that they reached an agreement to fast track 161 homes in
the next three years and spur the construction of over 1,384 homes
over the next decade.
The agreement, under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), will
provide over $5 million to eliminate
barriers to building the housing we need, faster. Stony Plain's Action Plan commits to seven
local initiatives that enable a variety of housing forms and
densities to meet the diverse needs of the community. Planned
initiatives will enable mixed-used redevelopment of underused
municipal properties and introduce a workflow and e-permitting
software that reduces application processing times for housing
developments. The Town will also work to enable more affordable
housing partnerships by developing legal agreements between
landowners and the non-profit organizations that oversee housing
units.
HAF is helping cut red tape and fast track at least 100,000
permitted new homes over the first three years, which cities and
regions estimate will lead to the creation of over 750,000
permitted new homes for people in towns, cities, and Indigenous
communities across Canada over the
next decade. It asks for innovative action plans from local
governments, and once approved, provides upfront funding to ensure
the timely building of new homes, as well as additional funds upon
delivering results. Local governments are encouraged to think big
and be bold in their approaches, which could include accelerating
project timelines, allowing increased housing density, and
encouraging affordable housing units.
In Budget 2024, the federal government committed an additional
$400 million to incentivize more
local governments to fast-track home construction, resulting in an
additional 12,000 new homes permitted over the next four years.
The Government of Canada is
making life more affordable for Canadians – and housing is key to
our work. We will continue to work with provincial, territorial,
and municipal governments, as well as Indigenous partners, to keep
building more homes for Canadians, faster.
Quotes:
"With initiatives like using municipal properties for housing,
creating legal agreements to develop more affordable homes, and
speeding up approvals for new developments, this agreement will
help make sure that Stony Plain
has more of the kinds of homes we need to tackle the housing
crisis. We are going to keep working with municipalities, mayors,
Indigenous partners, and all levels of government to get more homes
built for Canadians at prices they can afford."
– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing,
Infrastructure and Communities
"Stony Plain residents deserve
an affordable place to call home, and programs like the Housing
Accelerator Fund are making that possible. By cutting red tape and
getting more shovels in the ground, we're building more homes
faster, dropping housing prices, and doubling down on the work
we've already set in motion to make housing more accessible in
Alberta and across Canada." – The Honourable Randy
Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and
Official Languages
"Stony Plain is thrilled to be
chosen as the recipient of the Government of Canada's Housing Accelerator Fund, a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our community. This significant
investment in Stony Plain's growth
and housing development will have a profound impact on the
implementation of key initiatives in our 2024-2026 Corporate Plan,
and broader Housing Strategy and Uniquely Stony Plain Municipal
Development Plan. The Housing Accelerator Fund will not only
advance critical projects that are essential to promoting and
streamlining residential development, but also further position
Stony Plain as a future-ready
destination equipped for families and businesses to move to and
invest in."– William Choy, Mayor
of Stony Plain
Quick Facts:
- Today's announcement was made by Randy
Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development
and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser,
Minister of Housing Infrastructure and Communities, and
William Choy, Mayor of Stony Plain.
- Launched in March 2023, the
Housing Accelerator Fund is a $4.4
billion initiative from the Government of Canada that will run until 2027-28. The first
round of funding totalled $4 billion,
and Budget 2024 added an additional $400
million to this program.
- The Housing Accelerator Fund is part of Canada's National Housing Strategy, an $82+
billion plan to give more Canadians a place to call home. Progress
on programs and initiatives are updated quarterly at
www.placetocallhome.ca. The Housing Funding Initiatives Map shows
affordable housing projects that have been developed.
- As of March 2024, the federal
government has committed $50.97
billion to support the creation of over 146,000 units and
the repair of over 286,000 units. These measures prioritize those
in greatest need, including seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people
experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and women and children
fleeing violence.
Associated Links:
- Housing Accelerator Fund
- Housing Accelerator Fund – Building more homes, faster
- Building more homes, faster
- Making housing more affordable for Canadians
- National Housing Strategy
SOURCE Government of Canada