Mayor David West backs tax relief for homebuyers, stresses “growth must pay for growth”
By City Desk
RICHMOND HILL — Mayor David West is welcoming a new federal and provincial move aimed at reducing housing costs, while reiterating a key principle for municipalities: growth should fund itself.
In a written statement, the mayor expressed support for a proposal to cut HST for new homebuyers and to help municipalities reduce development charges on new housing construction. He said the measures could lower costs and help turn already-approved housing projects into completed homes.
The comments come as Canada — including Richmond Hill — continues to grapple with a deepening housing affordability crisis. West noted that barriers to entering the housing market are affecting a wide range of residents, from younger buyers to seniors, with broader impacts on the local economy and the city’s competitiveness.
The mayor pointed to recent municipal efforts to boost housing supply, including the approval of approximately 11,000 units, streamlined planning processes, and incentives for affordable rental development. He said progress has been made despite difficult market conditions and what he described as insufficient support from higher levels of government.
At the same time, West cautioned against eliminating development charges without a replacement funding model. He emphasized that such charges remain one of the primary tools municipalities use to pay for infrastructure tied to growth — including roads, transit, parks, libraries, and recreation facilities.
“The bottom line is simple: growth needs to pay for growth,” the mayor said, warning that without adequate funding, costs could shift onto existing property taxpayers or result in reduced services.
West said he is encouraged by the announcement but is awaiting further details on how the proposed measures would be implemented. He added that any plan should ensure municipalities are fully funded so that efforts to improve housing affordability do not create new financial pressures at the local level.