Latest news with #InfrastructureandCommunitiesCanada
Cision Canada
2 days ago
- General
- Cision Canada
Samuel De Champlain Bridge: Special Illumination for National Day Against Gun Violence Français
MONTREAL, June 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Tonight, the Samuel De Champlain Bridge will be lit up in white from sunset to 10 p.m. to mark National Day Against Gun Violence. Note: After 10 p.m., the architectural lighting will return to the blue-green illumination that reduces the risk of disorientating birds during their migratory period, which runs until June 15. Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Hamilton Spectator
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Burlington's short-term rental bylaw takes effect May 1. Here's what the licence costs
Less than a week before Burlington's short-term rental regulations take effect, the city awaits news on a federal funding application to pay for enforcement. Local short-term rental operators, who use online platforms like Airbnb, could apply for a required licence as of Thursday, April 24, but the city had not yet hired new staff to enforce the bylaw that comes into effect May 1. Communications staff said education and enforcement for the new bylaw will be managed through bylaw enforcement's existing operating budget. 'This approach enables the city to implement and enforce the bylaw within its approved resources,' a spokesperson said. The city anticipates Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada will formally announce details of successful funding applications to its Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund after the April 28 federal election. City councillors approved the new bylaw in a Jan. 13 special council meeting , in order to meet a Jan. 24 deadline for the federal funding application. But city and federal staff won't say yet if the application was successful. 'We are unable to share specific details regarding ongoing discussions and funding opportunities,' a city spokesperson said. A staff report earlier this year stated a $300 licence fee would bring up to $150,000 a year to pay administration costs, but would not cover enforcement costs. Staff said it needed the federal grant to fund two full-time bylaw officers dedicated to short-term rental enforcement. 'Without funding, staff will need to prioritize this enforcement over other areas in the city,' the report states. 'Council must approve this proposed licensing bylaw prior to the funding application deadline of Jan. 24, 2025. Failure to approve by this time would prevent Burlington from applying for enforcement funding of approximately $100,000 (to) $4.8 million.' The fund provides grants to municipalities of up to $4.8-million over three years, to support local enforcement of short-term rental restrictions, in hopes of making more long-term housing available. A department spokesperson said applications received by Jan. 24 were reviewed and decisions communicated directly to applicants by March 3. '(The department) does not provide details that have not been publicly released regarding its discussions with partners,' the spokesperson said. 'All non-critical announcements are suspended until government business resumes in full after the April 28 election.' Details on the new bylaw, regulations and requirement for a licence, and the online application form, is available on the city's website . Short-term accommodations will be allowed to be rented for a maximum of 28 consecutive days, and a total of six months per year. According to the city's website, the bylaw is intended to address issues of housing affordability, neighbourhood nuisances such as noise, garbage and parking, and safety, including maintenance and compliance with building and fire codes. Alex Howell, Airbnb Canada policy lead, questioned the goal of increasing housing availability. Howell said Statistics Canada reported the number of Burlington short-term rentals that could potentially become long-term dwellings, compared to the available housing supply, is just .09 per cent — less than the national average. 'While we are always open to working collaboratively with municipalities on thoughtful regulations, there is no evidence to suggest that short-term rentals are driving housing concerns in Burlington,' Howell said. According to the Statistics Canada data from 2021 , there were 346 short-term rental units in Burlington, including 67 potential long-term dwelling units.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal, provincial tariff relief should include municipalities, Ontario big city mayors say
Mayors of Ontario's big cities are calling on the federal and provincial governments to include them in any stimulus packages they launch to offset the impacts of U.S. tariffs, saying the money could be used for infrastructure projects. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said the group unanimously passed a resolution at its meeting on Friday, asking to be included in any federal or provincial tariff relief funds. As the chair of Ontario's Big City Mayors, Meed Ward said the group believes municipal infrastructure projects could help put people to work at a time when many are facing job losses due to the tariffs. "We believe that infrastructure funding not only provides sustainability for projects into the future, but it gets our people to work at a time that there is great uncertainty," Meed Ward said. "In terms of how much, we will take whatever the federal and provincial governments want to give us." Meed Ward said changes to the global trading system will affect businesses, communities, workers and municipalities. If people are laid off, stimulus packages could get them working again, she said. "We will have an active and ready labour force. And so, if we can get them working on infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, schools, community centres, all of the things that we need in community, that's what we want to do." Toronto to convene meeting on procurement in June Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who has indicated that she would like to work with other municipalities to reduce reliance on U.S.-based suppliers, told reporters that she is convening a discussion on June 6 in Toronto to work out the "fine details" of such a partnership that will look at procurement. Chow said the federal and provincial governments can also help to lower municipal costs of building affordable housing. "We need partnership with the federal and provincial government. We welcome their partnerships," Chow said. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said municipalities are trying to make sense of the tariffs. "I'll just say I don't think we've ever seen such a consistent level of inconsistency. And so that really, I think, says it all in terms of how we're trying to react," he said. "That being said, there are very strong bonds between communities, first and foremost in Canada and the United States. And we want to make sure that we continue to foster an environment that not only says you're welcome, but we want you to stay and continue to be part of our economic success." Canada launching 'tariff economic response plan' Ontario's municipal affairs and housing ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, however, said the federal government is launching a "tariff economic response plan to protect jobs, support businesses and stabilize Canada's economy while laying the groundwork to secure Canadian competitiveness and prosperity." As for money for infrastructure projects, the federal department said: "Federal investment in housing and infrastructure can be a catalyst for change in communities across Canada. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) will continue to work with project owners and partners in all orders of government to invest in projects that create jobs, stimulate local economies and make a difference for communities." Last week, Canada was spared when U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his widespread so-called "reciprocal" tariffs, but Canada continues to be subject to a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian-made automobiles. On March 12, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian steel and aluminum products.
CBC
22-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ottawa to give over $1 billion in extra funds for Quebec infrastructure projects
Ottawa says it will give more than $1.1 billion to Quebec in additional funding for two infrastructure projects in Montreal and Quebec City. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada made the announcement today, saying it will give over $650 million for the extension of the Montreal Metro's Blue line, for a total contribution of more than $1.9 billion. The department adds it will also invest $202.8 million to update the subway's train control system. The metro project includes five new metro stations that span six kilometres. The stations are expected to be operational by 2031. As for Quebec City, the department says it will provide an extra $332.3 million to add to the $1.1 billion it had already approved in 2019 in order to build a tramway, known as TramCité, in the provincial capital. The tramline will be 19 kilometres long and service 29 stations.
CBC
20-03-2025
- General
- CBC
Homelessness on P.E.I. has more than doubled in 3 years, non-profit finds
Social Sharing The John Howard Society on P.E.I. says the number of homeless people on the Island appears to have grown significantly. The 2024 Point in Time count conducted by the society found 318 unhoused people across the Island, more than double the 147 counted in the survey three years before. Conor Mullin, president of the non-profit group, said the study this time took a more comprehensive approach and surveyed communities from tip to tip on the Island, rather than focusing only on Charlottetown and Summerside. "What these results show is that homelessness is not just a Queens County problem or a Prince County problem. It's not just an urban problem; it's a problem that exists Island-wide," Mullin told CBC News. While the expanded scope of the count did contribute to the higher number, Mullin said the findings also indicate that the issue has grown larger overall. "What we're seeing is that as our population increases and becomes maybe more diverse, we're also seeing that these unique populations are suffering from these problems." Homelessness affects different populations Mullin said the count started on Sept. 30 and ran for 24 hours into Oct. 1, 2024. The exercise is done at the same time in every province, as dictated by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. "It involves having people out on the streets, at shelters, out on trails, places where we know homeless populations congregate, meeting people, talking to them, getting just a count of the number of people," he said. The John Howard Society has been counting how many people on Prince Edward Island do not have a place to live, and for the first time ever, it looked at the situation across the entire province. Conor Mullin, the president of the society's P.E.I. branch, spokes to Sheehan Desjardins of CBC News: Compass about the numbers. The count found that 70 per cent of P.E.I.'s unhoused population was located in Queens County, which includes Charlottetown. But this high concentration is likely due to the fact that most of the homeless services and resources on the Island are centred in that region, Mullin said. "So though some of these individuals may be from Prince or Kings County, they may be localized in Queens County just to have closer access to services." Demographic info collected too Along with the count, the non-profit also conducted a survey to gather demographic data, including gender, age and whether individuals belong to specific groups such as Indigenous people, newcomers to Canada, or veterans. One of the most striking findings was the sharp rise in homelessness among people who are new to the Island, Mullin said. "There's been almost a tripling in the homelessness found in that population, from about one per cent in 2021 to three per cent now in 2024, so that tells us that we need to have programs tailored specifically to the newcomer population," he said. Indigenous homelessness has also nearly doubled, rising from nine per cent in 2021 to 17 per cent in 2024. Mullin said this highlights the need for Indigenous-specific support programs. The number of veterans experiencing homelessness has also increased, from about one per cent to 2.5 per cent. However, Mullin noted that the John Howard Society of P.E.I. administers a federal program designed to provide housing for homeless veterans on the Island. The group plans to do just a count this year, with another combination count and survey in 2026.
