Toronto, ON – The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario, a coalition of farmers, environmentalists, housing activists, and other community groups, has released a scathing report card on the Ontario government’s housing policies. The report concludes that the province’s actions have actually worsened the housing crisis, with rents and home prices continuing to rise while housing starts have plummeted.

The report card, titled “Provincial Housing Report Card, Fall 2024,” focuses on three key areas: building housing in the right places, building a variety of housing types, and investing in non-market affordable housing. The report assigns a failing grade to the province in all three areas.

Building in the Wrong Places

The report criticizes the province’s focus on building single-family homes on farmland and natural areas, arguing that this approach drives up housing costs and contributes to sprawl. The report also criticizes the province’s decision to remove lands from the Greenbelt, a protected area of farmland and natural areas, although this decision was later reversed.

Lack of Housing Diversity

The report also criticizes the province’s failure to encourage the construction of a variety of housing types, such as mid-rise apartments and townhomes, which are often referred to as the “missing middle.” The report argues that this lack of diversity limits housing choices and contributes to affordability challenges.

Neglecting Non-Market Affordable Housing

The report is particularly critical of the province’s lack of investment in non-market affordable housing. The report notes that the province has made no changes to increase funding or its commitment to non-market housing, despite calls from housing stakeholders and municipal governments.

“The Wrong Type of Housing in the Wrong Places”

The report concludes that the province’s policies have encouraged the wrong type of housing in the wrong places at the wrong prices. As a result, the housing crisis has only gotten worse.

“The Province has the power to help solve the housing crisis but it has used it to do the opposite of what is needed,” said Victor Doyle, former Manager of Provincial Planning for Central Ontario. “Almost every action taken by the Ford government under its housing agenda either has nothing to do with housing or has missed the mark in supporting the types of housing people need, in the places they want to live at prices they can afford.”

Call for a Change of Course

The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario is calling on the province to change course and adopt policies that will support the construction of affordable housing in the right places. The Alliance is urging the province to invest in non-market affordable housing, encourage the construction of a variety of housing types, and prioritize building housing within existing towns and cities.

“The Province needs to reverse course immediately if it wants to help solve the housing crisis,” said Franz Hartmann, Coordinator of the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario. “It’s time to stop helping developers build more expensive sprawl housing and instead use provincial powers to help build the homes Ontarians need and want.”

The report card is a wake-up call for the Ontario government. It is a clear indication that the province’s current approach to housing is not working. If the government is serious about addressing the housing crisis, it must take immediate action to change course.