‘We are ready to build:' Toronto mayor to meet with PM Mark Carney and request money for housing, public transit
The meeting is set to take place at 1 p.m. and marks the first time that Chow will sit down with Carney since he became Prime Minister in March.
During the recent election campaign. Carney proposed a series of initiatives that he said would double the rate of housing construction to 500,000 units a year.
But in an interview with CP24 on Thursday, Chow pointed out that much of that work will take time, especially with the federal government not expected to present a budget until the fall.
She said that her pitch to Carney will be simple: why not fund help Toronto fund some existing programs designed to increase the pace of housing starts right now?
'He (Carney) has said that the federal government is back in the housing business which is great. we have been waiting for that for three decades and he is finally doing it but it will take a while to ramp up so what I am trying to say is in the meantime there is a whole lot of things we (the City of Toronto) can do to partner with you so that we can do the building of housing and giving rent supplements right now,' she said. 'We can help people right now. So I am presenting him with a plan on how to start now and not wait until the budget comes in the fall.'
In March, the federal government announced that it would provide Toronto with $2.55 billion in low-cost financing to help deliver nearly 5,000 new rental homes, including a minimum of 1,075 affordable units.
But Chow suggested that the city could incentivize the construction of even more units if the federal government were to provide additional funding to a pre-existing program, where development charges and other fees are waived so long as a developer commits to building a certain number of affordable units.
'He (Carney) also wants to build right? Remember he said 'build, build, build.' So we are ready to build,' Chow told CP24.
Chow said that she will also press Carney for funding for a number of priority transit projects, including the Waterfront LRT.
'I just can't go and build housing if people are stuck in traffic. The waterfront is bad enough already. We are putting in 100,000 (more) people there. How are they going to move in and out of that area?' she said.
Chow first travelled to Ottawa on Wednesday and has already participated in a number of meetings with federal government officials, including Minister of Housing Gregor Robertson.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
2 minutes ago
- National Post
Slate Grocery REIT Announces Distribution for the Month of August 2025
Article content TORONTO — Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U) (TSX: (the 'REIT'), an owner and operator of U.S. grocery-anchored real estate, announced today that the Board of Trustees has declared a distribution for the month of August 2025 of U.S.$0.072 per class U unit of the REIT ('Class U Units'), or U.S.$0.864 on an annualized basis. Article content Holders of Class U Units may elect to receive their distribution in Canadian dollars and should contact their broker to make such an election. Article content Holders of class A units of the REIT ('Class A Units') will receive a distribution equal to the Canadian dollar equivalent (based on the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate at the time of payment of the distribution) of U.S.$0.072 per Class A Unit, unless the unitholder has elected to receive distributions in U.S. dollars. Holders of class I units of the REIT ('Class I Units') will receive a distribution of U.S.$0.072 per Class I Unit, unless the unitholder has elected to receive distributions in Canadian dollars. Holders of units of subsidiaries of the REIT that are exchangeable into Class U Units ('Exchangeable Units') will receive a distribution of U.S.$0.072 per unit. Article content If a holder of Class U Units or Class I Units elects to receive distributions in Canadian dollars, the holder will receive the Canadian dollar equivalent amount of the distribution being paid on the Class U Units or Class I Units, as applicable, based on the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate at the time of payment of the distribution. Article content Distributions on all unit classes of the REIT, and distributions on Exchangeable Units, will be payable on September 15, 2025, to unitholders of record as of the close of business on August 29, 2025. Article content About Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U / Slate Grocery REIT is an owner and operator of U.S. grocery-anchored real estate. The REIT owns and operates approximately U.S. $2.4 billion of critical real estate infrastructure across major U.S. metro markets that communities rely upon for their daily needs. The REIT's resilient grocery-anchored portfolio and strong credit tenants are expected to provide unitholders with durable cash flows and the potential for capital appreciation over the longer term. Visit Article content Article content to learn more about the REIT. Article content About Slate Asset Management Article content Slate Asset Management is a global investor and manager focused on essential real estate and infrastructure assets. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners across the real assets space. We are supported by exceptional people and flexible capital, which enable us to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit Article content LinkedIn Article content , Article content X (Twitter) Article content , and Article content Instagram Article content . Article content Forward-Looking Statements Article content Certain information herein constitutes 'forward-looking information' as defined under Canadian securities laws which reflect management's expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the REIT. The words 'plans', 'expects', 'does not expect', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'intends', 'anticipates', 'does not anticipate', 'projects', 'believes', or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'will', 'could', 'would', 'might', 'occur', 'be achieved', or 'continue' and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Article content Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the REIT cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings of the REIT with securities regulators. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For Further Information Article content Article content Article content Article content
CBC
11 minutes ago
- CBC
In critical North America oil hub, pipelines and uncertainty are shaping byelection
At first glance, the east-central Alberta town of Hardisty looks like many prairie communities. A semi-trailer rolls along a wide, open road beneath an expansive blue sky. An antique shop opens on the modest main street, drawing in treasure seekers for a chat and a quick barter. The popular local sports pub fills with locals ordering the daily special. Today, it's fried chicken and ribs. But just southeast of the town of about 600 residents, the landscape changes. Large tanks dot the horizon, holding millions of barrels of crude. Within Alberta's energy industry, everyone knows the name. This is the Hardisty Terminal, a critical hub in North America's oil and gas network. "If you want to get oil out of Western Canada, for the most part, almost all of it comes through Hardisty at some point," says Blake Moser, chair of the Hardisty and District Development Group. Inside the town limits, residents are proud to say that this infrastructure keeps the country's energy economy moving. At the same time, the town itself is grappling with a lack of services that threaten its sense of community amid a period of broader political uncertainty and rapid global change. Hardisty sits in the federal riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, where voters will head to the polls on Monday. While the town has an agricultural base, the oil industry dominates its economy and its politics. "Our energy sector is going to play a big role," says local realtor Connie Beringer of the upcoming election. 'Still getting by' Hardisty's fortunes flow with the pipelines and projects located outside its boundaries. When things are busy, restaurants and hotels fill up. When things slow down, so it goes for the town. Vince and Hayden Lehne, father and son, run Local Rentals & Septic Service, supplying equipment, water and septic services largely to oilfield and construction crews. There have been plenty of busy periods for the Lehnes, such as during the Line 3 pipeline replacement project. But over time, as projects started to slow down, so did activity on the streets of Hardisty. Some recent years have been more moderate, especially this past winter, when the phone largely went quiet. It's hard to put your finger on why that is. In Hayden's eyes, it could just be the way the world's going. Maybe everyone just wants to start getting away from oil and gas, he says. The father and son will congregate in the main office each morning to complete paperwork and dispatch equipment, but also to chat. Signs of the world changing are all around them. Some of it they find fascinating. "I'd say, our day-to-day in the mornings would be, sit here, talk about what crypto's doing," Hayden says. Much like the volatile, roller-coaster world of digital currencies, Local Rentals & Septic Service has ridden the wave of the boom-and-bust oil and gas industry's ups and downs. The shop was originally purchased by Vince's father, who began with small items like porta-potties before expanding into larger gear. Even at 79, he still comes in the shop daily, as does Vince's mother, who manages invoices and submits paperwork, all without taking a paycheque. Hayden joined the operation in 2017 after working as a journeyman welder. Now married with a young child, he handles much of the day-to-day work, including water, septic and equipment deliveries. "It's good," Vince says of having the whole family under one roof. He thinks for a moment. "Well, when it's good, it's really good," Vince says. "And then, when … let's say it's slow, it's kind of stressful, because now your whole family's [tied] into it, right?" Vince and Hayden share a sense of gratitude for what the industry has brought them, and the repeat clients they can count on. As it has always been, quiet times often give way to good times. That's playing out again, as the melt of a cold and unnerving winter has left behind brighter business prospects for summer. Still, those prospects don't erase the broader reality that the world is in a time of rapid change. While the sector is riding a wave of strong profits, much of it is being returned to shareholders rather than major expansions of operations. Government coffers continue to see significant contributions from the oil and gas sector in the form of royalties and taxes. However, among all sectors, it is Canada's single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for about 30 per cent of the national total in 2023. When there are global shifts in oil and gas demand or when tariffs and inflation hit, the ripple effects reach Hardisty. "It's getting kind of harder to make a living," says Hayden. "But you know. Still getting by. Grateful for the things we do have." Ups and downs Gratitude is on the minds of the Lehnes, and it's obviously a message that has caught on among the small community. On a town sign in the middle of the community, a placard reads: "As summer winds down, let August be a month of gratitude." Over the past few years, officials say they've attracted new residents and businesses. Beringer, the local realtor, says the market was quite soft up until early spring this year. "We've seen about a 30 to 35 per cent increase in house sales, mostly people moving in from Ontario and B.C.," she says. Of course, the status of major projects, such as pipelines and rail infrastructure, significantly impact local business activity, says Wayne Jackson, the town's mayor. Political and economic uncertainty has slowed things down and has led to "one of the most uncertain times" the mayor has seen in his town. "The last few years, I've noticed the projects that are getting done are like … I see people working on what they have. They're not adding as much," he says. Service gaps frustrating Despite its central role in North America's energy network, Hardisty also faces rural service gaps that have become familiar all across the country. Its hospital operates with limited capacity. There's difficulty attracting medical professionals. And the local school has been closed for years. With the school's doors shut, kids start their days with long bus rides, heading out on the highway toward classrooms in Irma or Sedgewick. In winter, that can mean icy roads for big chunks of time before the first bell even rings. For all the pride they hold in their community and their industry, these issues are a lingering source of frustration for officials. "We have all of these hundreds of millions of dollars worth of product flowing through our back door," Jackson said. "It's truly bizarre to me that we don't have more attention." Without these basic services, some residents feel the town's future is at risk. "I feel really sorry for the young families that would probably move in here, that choose not to because of no education and health care," says Marilyn Devey, who's lived in the community for four decades. She believes these gaps deter young families: "They choose other communities." Pipelines and policy Moser, of the Hardisty and District Development Group, knows the maze of tanks and pipes that make up the Hardisty Terminal like the back of his hand. "As long as somebody's consuming, it'll always be moving through Hardisty. This facility, it's not going anywhere," he says. He wants to see someone elected in the upcoming byelection who can advocate for reduced barriers to market. In his view, that would benefit the entire country, including when it comes to additional royalties available for use by governments. "A lot of the large American companies, they don't have as much confidence in the oilsands, and developing some of these larger projects," he says. "That definitely impacts the amount of oil that we're able to move through here." Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding to regain a seat in the House of Commons, has frequently criticized federal oil and gas policy, recently promising to "legalize" pipelines through new legislation. At a candidates' forum in Camrose, Alta., on July 29, Poilievre said electing a leader of a political party as a local MP could "bring a very powerful megaphone" to local issues of a community. "For example, getting a pipeline built from Hardisty over to Prince Rupert or to Kitimat, that is a local issue that requires national leadership," he said. Other candidates in the riding have also voiced their support for pipelines. During the July 29 forum, Liberal candidate Darcy Spady said he was in support of Prime Minister Mark Carney's stated goal to build the strongest economy in the G7. "I think it's time we have pipelines that sell our oil and gas, and solid trading practices around the globe," Spady said. Conservative MP Damien Kurek resigned to allow Poilievre to run in the race, which includes more than 200 candidates, most of whom are part of a group of electoral reform advocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee. Mixed picture on main street On Hardisty's main street, the mood is mixed. On a recent Friday, many Hardisty storefronts stay shuttered until late morning. Some are closed entirely. Fred Stolz is one of the shop owners opening the doors. He operates Old Town Mercantile, which deals in antiques, sports memorabilia and novelty items. In the store, the walls are lined with vintage licence plates dating from 1929 to the late 1970s. The space also features collectibles like original Tonka toys, a 1905 cash register from an old Alberta pharmacy, antique china cabinets and survey equipment. "Anything that's cool, we sell," Stolz says. He attributes the closure of some shops in the area to the ebbs and flows in the economy. Unlike in a big city, people are only going out for dinner on certain occasions. It's the influx of people that makes things exciting, in Stolz's view. He's seen new businesses open in recent years, including a live theatre, but knows success means saving in good times to weather the slow ones. "Ebbs and flows, you know," he says. For Stolz, there's hope that a friendlier environment for oil and gas could draw more people to Hardisty, boosting local businesses and making key services like the school and hospital viable again. He sees population growth as essential to sustaining Hardisty's future. But no matter what happens, he says it's the small town's resilience that is its constant, not the swings or the political debate. "No matter how tough the times are," Stolz says, "people survive."
CBC
33 minutes ago
- CBC
Pipelines, policy and uncertainty shape Alberta byelection in Hardisty's oil hub
At first glance, the east-central Alberta town of Hardisty looks like many prairie communities. A semi-trailer rolls along a wide, open road beneath an expansive blue sky. An antique shop opens on the modest main street, drawing in treasure seekers for a chat and a quick barter. The popular local sports pub fills with locals ordering the daily special. Today, it's fried chicken and ribs. But just southeast of the town of about 600 residents, the landscape changes. Large tanks dot the horizon, holding millions of barrels of crude. Within Alberta's energy industry, everyone knows the name. This is the Hardisty Terminal, a critical hub in North America's oil and gas network. "If you want to get oil out of Western Canada, for the most part, almost all of it comes through Hardisty at some point," says Blake Moser, chair of the Hardisty and District Development Group. Inside the town limits, residents are proud to say that this infrastructure keeps the country's energy economy moving. At the same time, the town itself is grappling with a lack of services that threaten its sense of community amid a period of broader political uncertainty and rapid global change. Hardisty sits in the federal riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, where voters will head to the polls on Monday. While the town has an agricultural base, the oil industry dominates its economy and its politics. "Our energy sector is going to play a big role," says local realtor Connie Beringer of the upcoming election. 'Still getting by' Hardisty's fortunes flow with the pipelines and projects located outside its boundaries. When things are busy, restaurants and hotels fill up. When things slow down, so it goes for the town. Vince and Hayden Lehne, father and son, run Local Rentals & Septic Service, supplying equipment, water and septic services largely to oilfield and construction crews. There have been plenty of busy periods for the Lehnes, such as during the Line 3 pipeline replacement project. But over time, as projects started to slow down, so did activity on the streets of Hardisty. Some recent years have been more moderate, especially this past winter, when the phone largely went quiet. It's hard to put your finger on why that is. In Hayden's eyes, it could just be the way the world's going. Maybe everyone just wants to start getting away from oil and gas, he says. The father and son will congregate in the main office each morning to complete paperwork and dispatch equipment, but also to chat. Signs of the world changing are all around them. Some of it they find fascinating. "I'd say, our day-to-day in the mornings would be, sit here, talk about what crypto's doing," Hayden says. Much like the volatile, roller-coaster world of digital currencies, Local Rentals & Septic Service has ridden the wave of the boom-and-bust oil and gas industry's ups and downs. The shop was originally purchased by Vince's father, who began with small items like porta-potties before expanding into larger gear. Even at 79, he still comes in the shop daily, as does Vince's mother, who manages invoices and submits paperwork, all without taking a paycheque. Hayden joined the operation in 2017 after working as a journeyman welder. Now married with a young child, he handles much of the day-to-day work, including water, septic and equipment deliveries. "It's good," Vince says of having the whole family under one roof. He thinks for a moment. "Well, when it's good, it's really good," Vince says. "And then, when … let's say it's slow, it's kind of stressful, because now your whole family's [tied] into it, right?" Vince and Hayden share a sense of gratitude for what the industry has brought them, and the repeat clients they can count on. As it has always been, quiet times often give way to good times. That's playing out again, as the melt of a cold and unnerving winter has left behind brighter business prospects for summer. Still, those prospects don't erase the broader reality that the world is in a time of rapid change. While the sector is riding a wave of strong profits, much of it is being returned to shareholders rather than major expansions of operations. Government coffers continue to see significant contributions from the oil and gas sector in the form of royalties and taxes. However, among all sectors, it is Canada's single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for about 30 per cent of the national total in 2023. When there are global shifts in oil and gas demand or when tariffs and inflation hit, the ripple effects reach Hardisty. "It's getting kind of harder to make a living," says Hayden. "But you know. Still getting by. Grateful for the things we do have." Ups and downs Gratitude is on the minds of the Lehnes, and it's obviously a message that has caught on among the small community. On a town sign in the middle of the community, a placard reads: "As summer winds down, let August be a month of gratitude." Over the past few years, officials say they've attracted new residents and businesses. Beringer, the local realtor, says the market was quite soft up until early spring this year. "We've seen about a 30 to 35 per cent increase in house sales, mostly people moving in from Ontario and B.C.," she says. Of course, the status of major projects, such as pipelines and rail infrastructure, significantly impact local business activity, says Wayne Jackson, the town's mayor. Political and economic uncertainty has slowed things down and has led to "one of the most uncertain times" the mayor has seen in his town. "The last few years, I've noticed the projects that are getting done are like … I see people working on what they have. They're not adding as much," he says. Service gaps frustrating Despite its central role in North America's energy network, Hardisty also faces rural service gaps that have become familiar all across the country. Its hospital operates with limited capacity. There's difficulty attracting medical professionals. And the local school has been closed for years. With the school's doors shut, kids start their days with long bus rides, heading out on the highway toward classrooms in Irma or Sedgewick. In winter, that can mean icy roads for big chunks of time before the first bell even rings. For all the pride they hold in their community and their industry, these issues are a lingering source of frustration for officials. "We have all of these hundreds of millions of dollars worth of product flowing through our back door," Jackson said. "It's truly bizarre to me that we don't have more attention." Without these basic services, some residents feel the town's future is at risk. "I feel really sorry for the young families that would probably move in here, that choose not to because of no education and health care," says Marilyn Devey, who's lived in the community for four decades. She believes these gaps deter young families: "They choose other communities." Pipelines and policy Moser, of the Hardisty and District Development Group, knows the maze of tanks and pipes that make up the Hardisty Terminal like the back of his hand. "As long as somebody's consuming, it'll always be moving through Hardisty. This facility, it's not going anywhere," he says. He wants to see someone elected in the upcoming byelection who can advocate for reduced barriers to market. In his view, that would benefit the entire country, including when it comes to additional royalties available for use by governments. "A lot of the large American companies, they don't have as much confidence in the oilsands, and developing some of these larger projects," he says. "That definitely impacts the amount of oil that we're able to move through here." Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding to regain a seat in the House of Commons, has frequently criticized federal oil and gas policy, recently promising to "legalize" pipelines through new legislation. At a candidates' forum in Camrose, Alta., on July 29, Poilievre said electing a leader of a political party as a local MP could "bring a very powerful megaphone" to local issues of a community. "For example, getting a pipeline built from Hardisty over to Prince Rupert or to Kitimat, that is a local issue that requires national leadership," he said. Other candidates in the riding have also voiced their support for pipelines. During the July 29 forum, Liberal candidate Darcy Spady said he was in support of Prime Minister Mark Carney's stated goal to build the strongest economy in the G7. "I think it's time we have pipelines that sell our oil and gas, and solid trading practices around the globe," Spady said. Conservative MP Damien Kurek resigned to allow Poilievre to run in the race, which includes more than 200 candidates, most of whom are part of a group of electoral reform advocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee. Mixed picture on main street On Hardisty's main street, the mood is mixed. On a recent Friday, many Hardisty storefronts stay shuttered until late morning. Some are closed entirely. Fred Stolz is one of the shop owners opening the doors. He operates Old Town Mercantile, which deals in antiques, sports memorabilia and novelty items. In the store, the walls are lined with vintage licence plates dating from 1929 to the late 1970s. The space also features collectibles like original Tonka toys, a 1905 cash register from an old Alberta pharmacy, antique china cabinets and survey equipment. "Anything that's cool, we sell," Stolz says. He attributes the closure of some shops in the area to the ebbs and flows in the economy. Unlike in a big city, people are only going out for dinner on certain occasions. It's the influx of people that makes things exciting, in Stolz's view. He's seen new businesses open in recent years, including a live theatre, but knows success means saving in good times to weather the slow ones. "Ebbs and flows, you know," he says. For Stolz, there's hope that a friendlier environment for oil and gas could draw more people to Hardisty, boosting local businesses and making key services like the school and hospital viable again. He sees population growth as essential to sustaining Hardisty's future. But no matter what happens, he says it's the small town's resilience that is its constant, not the swings or the political debate.
