WHEREAS York Region, in February 2021, declared a housing affordability crisis and supports all efforts to address these challenges; and
WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has made it a priority to build 1.5 million new homes by 2031 to help address the housing affordability crisis; and
WHEREAS most York Region municipalities have received targets totaling 150,000 new homes by 2031; and
WHEREAS the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act, 2022, provided that a new dedicated system will be required to convey wastewater from the Upper York service area to Lake Ontario through the York Durham Sewage System and Duffin Creek Plant; and
WHEREAS changes to the Development Charges Act,1997, currently in effect, have reduced development charges collections, which include the phase-in of Council-approved development charges rates, rental housing discounts, the removal of Housing Services as a development charges-eligible service, and the removal of growth studies and land (for prescribed services) as development charges-eligible costs; and
WHEREAS reduced water and wastewater development charges collections as a result of the changes to the Development Charges Act, 1997, currently in effect, are estimated to be at least $284 million over the next ten years; and
WHEREAS reduced development charges collections relating to all other Regional infrastructure as a result of the changes to the Development Charges Act, 1997, currently in effect, are estimated to be at least $415 million over the next ten years; and
WHEREAS changes to the Development Charges Act,1997, not yet in effect, will provide exemptions for affordable and attainable housing, which will result in a further reduction in development charges collections; and
WHEREAS Minister’s Zoning Orders will create growth in new community areas or create infill development within existing communities, often at levels significantly higher than originally forecasted; and
WHEREAS over $2.6 billion of additional unplanned and accelerated infrastructure will be required to accommodate 100% of York Region municipalities’ housing targets; and
WHEREAS without additional infrastructure funding programs York Region will be challenged to build this $2.6 billion of additional unplanned and accelerated infrastructure in a fiscally sustainable way; and
WHEREAS without additional infrastructure funding programs, an additional water and wastewater user rate increase of 7.9% would be required in 2025, to offset the loss of development charges collections, resulting in an increase to the average residential water and wastewater bill in York Region of approximately $55; and
WHEREAS without additional infrastructure funding programs, an additional tax levy increase of 3.7% would be required in 2024, to offset the loss of development charges collections, resulting in an increase to the average residential property tax bill in York Region of approximately $104; and
WHEREAS the Province of Ontario recently announced the Building Faster Fund which could provide up to $400 million in total funding per year, for three years, to municipalities that are on track to meet their targets; and
WHEREAS the Building Faster Fund is not open to upper-tier municipalities, despite the vital housing-related infrastructure they provide; and
WHEREAS the Province Ontario recently announced, as part of the 2023 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Building a Strong Ontario Together, the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund which could provide up to $200 million in total funding, over three years; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of Ontario be requested to contribute funding towards the cost of the unplanned and accelerated infrastructure needed to meet the Provincial housing targets, including a capital contribution to York Region’s sewage, roads, transit and housing infrastructure costs that are increasing by more than $2.6 billion; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province of Ontario be requested to confirm that the Region will be made financially whole as a result of changes to the Development Charges Act, 1997, currently in effect, which are estimated to be at least $284 million for water and wastewater related infrastructure and $415 million for all other Regional infrastructure over the next ten years; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that when changes to the Development Charges Act, 1997, with respect to exemptions for affordable and attainable housing take effect, the Province of Ontario commit to keeping the Region financially whole from the reduced development charges collections; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province of Ontario be requested to make upper-tier municipalities eligible for funding under the Building Faster Fund; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province of Ontario be requested to make upper-tier municipalities eligible for funding under the newly announced Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Regional Clerk circulate this resolution to the Premier of Ontario, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Minister of Finance, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure, and local members of Provincial Parliament.