Everyone wants the new TTC subway cars to be made in Canada. So why are Ottawa and city hall butting heads over them?
A letter obtained by the Star dated June 23, written by federal Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson to Mayor Olivia Chow, notes that it had become 'apparent' that both Toronto and the Ontario government were seeking to ensure the contract for the project would allow the cars to be built within the country, leaving the TTC to change its procurement plans.
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Globe and Mail
19 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Ottawa is quietly working on launching a new entity it hopes will be key to housing affordability
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has been quiet since the federal election about the housing crisis, the same issue that contributed to the Liberals' fading popularity under their previous leader. Behind the scenes, however, housing stakeholders are fielding a flurry of calls from government officials seeking their advice on the creation of Build Canada Homes, a new federal entity that Mr. Carney has said will get the government back in the business of homebuilding. His ambitions, announced during his campaign, were big: act as a developer to build affordable housing, spur innovation in the housing sector and offer low-cost financing to affordable-housing builders. However, trade turmoil has quickly overshadowed housing affordability in the political arena, creating a void of information on how the federal government plans to get more homes built. Renée LeBlanc Proctor, a spokesperson for Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, said in a statement that the government was on track to launch the initiative this fall and stakeholders would learn more soon. But questions still linger about how the new entity will function, and what its creation will mean for existing programs. Meanwhile, some leaders in the housing policy and advocacy spaces are worried that if the government doesn't move quickly to spur more supply, the economic slowdown caused by U.S. tariffs will set plans further behind. Mr. Carney promised the initiative would be a 'lean, mission-driven organization' focused on building affordable housing by leveraging public lands and partnering with the private sector. He pitched it as a central piece of the government's plan to double the rate of homebuilding in the country. Opinion: Ottawa must resist the temptation to fiddle with CMHC amid housing market slump Raymond Sullivan, executive director of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, an organization that represents the social and non-profit housing sector, said he's encouraged to see affordable housing at the heart of Build Canada Homes' mission. But given how long it can take to set up a new bureaucracy, Mr. Sullivan said the government should roll out elements of Build Canada Homes as they become ready, rather than wait for the entire organization to be set up. 'We're not going to have a cake that's fully baked and ready to launch in the fall. So let's focus on the pieces that are already available to us,' he said. University of Toronto senior housing researcher Carolyn Whitzman said there are two versions of the initiative that are being discussed in policy circles: one that is limited in scope and focused primarily on partnering with developers to build affordable housing on public land, and one that also has a larger mandate encompassing financing and innovation programs. Figuring out what exactly Build Canada Homes will be responsible for and how it will distinguish itself from organizations such as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation appear to be some of the details Ottawa is trying to hammer out, according to stakeholders consulted by the government. Mr. Sullivan said Ottawa should ensure social-housing projects in the pipeline are not affected by the organization's creation. 'We don't want to see any kind of interruption. We need to know that the government is there as a partner with us, not sitting back for a year building a new structure, but ready to work on things that are ready,' he said. Real estate is not a financial slam dunk, Canadians are learning the hard way Some housing experts and stakeholders are skeptical that Build Canada Homes will be a sufficient solution to the housing shortage. The government has had mixed success with its housing initiatives in the past — such as the slow progress it's made on converting unused office space into affordable housing recently flagged by the Auditor-General — and a new organization will likely take time to begin delivering results. 'They've talked about partnering with industry to actually build the units, which will be important, because governments around the world have proven that they can't properly get into the actual construction game,' said Kevin Lee, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders' Association. Mr. Lee said building affordable housing on public lands also won't be enough to get the government to its goal of 500,000 housing starts a year. (The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 283,734 units in June.) Meanwhile, the private and social-housing sectors are impatient for clarity on other policy fronts, including the promised GST rebate for first-time homebuyers. Mr. Lee said the delay is affecting demand at a time when the economy is already slowing down the housing market. 'Having something like that that was promised not get turned into official policy has really thrown another wrench into the system,' said Mr. Lee. Proposed GST rebate for first-time homebuyers could offer average relief of $27,000, PBO says Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne introduced legislation in late May to provide the GST rebates. But unlike the government's 'One Canadian Economy' legislation, which was rushed through the House of Commons and Senate during the four-week sitting, the bill on GST rebates must wait for Parliament to return in the fall. The government's prioritization of fast-tracking approvals for major projects and managing trade tensions with the U.S. reflects a shift in the public's priorities, as well. Polling by Abacus Data shows U.S. President Donald Trump is the second-most important issue to Canadians, with housing and the economy nearly tied for third. (The rising cost of living – which includes housing costs – was the No. 1 issue.) Mike Moffatt, founding director of the University of Ottawa's Missing Middle Initiative, said the shift in priorities is understandable, though he warned housing could become of greater importance again. 'The government would be doing itself favours if they do the legwork now, because if it becomes a big concern, or the primary concern for Canadians, again, it might be too late to really address that,' Mr. Moffatt said. The trade war with the United States also has repercussions for the housing market, which won't make the government's job of spurring homebuilding any easier. RBC assistant chief economist Robert Hogue said the housing market is slowing down in part as 'payback for an exceptionally strong period' after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'However, the trade war kind of put a damper on things and really affected confidence in most of Canada, and that's when we saw, through the winter and spring, a lot of potential home buyers saying, 'might as well sit it out,'' he said. These three housing markets are bucking national trends, and Trump is one reason why 'The challenge is to get more demand for new construction at a time when building costs have gone up and and you've got now more inventory in the existing home market, in many places around Canada.' Mr. Moffatt said as the government works on setting up the organization, it needs to roll out policies that will have a more immediate effect on the housing market. For example, the government could expand its proposed GST rebate so that all homebuyers of a primary residence are eligible, he said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in the spring his government would match the tax break if it were extended to all homebuyers. Prof. Whitzman said social-housing builders also are seeking information on a number of programs, including the affordable housing fund, which provided capital for the repair of existing affordable and community housing. That fund recently ran out of money, leaving its future in limbo. 'I'm not saying Build Canada Homes is a bad idea,' she said. 'But there's stuff that could be happening tomorrow and there's stuff that should be happening tomorrow.'
National Post
20 hours ago
- National Post
'They were just hell-bent': Mayor battling Ottawa over 'really left' housing mandate
Article content The province of Ontario already mandates three buildings on a residential lot, the bureaucrats told Drew, so what's the big deal about adding four? His rebuttal: 'Then what's the big deal about adding five? I mean, where does it stop? And when do you get to say enough's enough; that we have processes in place that allow us to look at sewer capacity, that allow us to deal with parking, that allow us to deal with garbage control? Article content 'We hope to work with the federal government — who wants to truly be a partner in helping build more housing — without jamming down our throats something residents don't want,' pleads the veteran mayor. Article content To that end, after Carney took power, the mayor sent a letter — as yet, unanswered — to the government, asking for a re-evaluation of this rigid approach to the housing accelerator fund. Article content Drew has previously worked with Gregor Robertson, former mayor of Vancouver and now Carney's point man on housing and infrastructure. He's optimistic Robertson will bring practical insights about the correlation between affordable housing and density to the federal table. I noted that if increased density brought affordability, Vancouver would be cheap by now. Article content 'I think the benefit of having a fresh government,' Drew offers, 'is they can come in and say, 'Listen, we looked at the program … while we appreciate the intention the past government was trying to employ here, we think there's a better way of working with municipalities, allowing them the flexibility to determine how to accomplish the goal. We'll set the goals and then we'll hold them to account.'' Article content Drew's suggestion echoes what I heard Pierre Poilievre say in the last election campaign. But, we agree, there's nothing wrong with the Liberals stealing good ideas from the Conservatives. Article content While the housing accelerator initiative is the focus of Windsor council's attention, Drew's not happy these blanket zoning mandates are being applied to other programs — including federal public transit and housing infrastructure funding available to municipalities. Article content 'And it gets even better,' Drew continues, his tone increasingly agitated. 'Guess who doesn't have to do this? The entire province of Quebec. They have an exemption. They carved out a different pathway … four units as of right was not a requirement in the province of Quebec.' Indeed, Premier Francois Legault trumpeted his $900-million deal with Ottawa as being 'free of conditions.' Article content The economy of Windsor has taken a sharp downturn in the past 18 months. Before Donald Trump's re-election, the Conference Board of Canada predicted Windsor would be the fastest-growing city by GDP of the 24 big cities they studied. 'We had the battery factory well under construction,' Drew reports, 'and we've got the Gordie Howe bridge that is winding up construction and should open officially the first week of December this year. Article content 'But the reality is, there's a lot of fear here,' he shares. 'Our unemployment rate was almost 11 per cent and people are in rainy day mode. People are pinching their pennies … The housing market is very slow and everyone's just in a wait-and-see mode.' Article content Property developers are on standby, he says, waiting to see if the Carney Liberals will cut development charges by 50 per cent at the municipal level (as promised during the election campaign), and whether the feds will offer low-interest loans for multi-storey residential units. Article content
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Vancouver Sun
Which Bayern Munich superstar is thinking of joining the Whitecaps?
The thing about miracles is they are extremely rare — but they do happen. Hail Mary, full of grace there is a chance that Thomas Müller may become a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps . The idea of bringing the Bayern Munich legend to Vancouver, let alone Major League Soccer, seemed dead when presented to Caps CEO Axel Schuster dismissed the idea, saying it didn't fit the team's current roster construction model. But Transfermarkt scoops guru Manuel Veth reported Saturday that the move wasn't completely dead and, in fact, Vancouver had become the odds-on favourite to land the 35-year-old Müller, who has spent the last 17 years cementing himself as one of the Bundesliga team's greatest all-time players. The rumours started flying of Müller's move to MLS during the All-Star festivities earlier this week, and the German international confirmed it after posting a video saying retirement wasn't an option, and his future lay elsewhere. A post shared by Thomas Müller (@esmuellert) FC Cincinnati were the front-runners, as they hold his discovery rights for MLS. But Cincy was seemingly rebuffed as a destination by Müller, and trade talks began in earnest. Los Angeles FC cropped up as the next likely landing spot, but they have shifted their attention to Tottenham Hotspur winger Heung-Min Son. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Philadelphia Union were another possibility, but the team balked at the idea of paying wages amounting to US$9 to $10 million per year, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, with Union sporting director Ernst Tanner calling them 'unthinkable.' The biggest hurdle, Veth reported, was the amount of money Cincinnati wants for the discovery rights, saying they want more than the $400,000 the LA Galaxy paid Charlotte FC for Marco Reus' discovery rights last year. If Müller were to sign in Vancouver, it would easily be the biggest signing in team's tenure, and rank as one of the largest sporting moves in the city's history. As for the roster construction model, the Whitecaps have currently declared to be following the U22 model — meaning two Designated Players and four U22 players. The Caps currently have Ryan Gauld and Andres Cubas as DP, while Édier Ocampo and the newly acquired Kenji Cabrera make up the U22 players. But they can switch their declaration to the DP-heavy model — three DPs and three U22 players — up until the end of the Secondary Transfer Window on Aug. 21, making room for Müller.
