Articles tagged with "Government and Policy"

Mayor Sutcliffe has pledged a historic overhaul of the housing construction process. This initiative originates from the findings of the Housing Innovation Task Force. Their goal is to discover new ways to speed up the building of affordable homes.

Sault Ste. Marie and the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority have formed a partnership to establish a trade corridor linking northern and southern Ontario. This corridor aims to incorporate rail, highway, and marine links with services available for an extended season. It is suggested that the plan will be anchored by new developments to enhance connectivity between these regions.

The City of Toronto has outlined zoning policies for 25 Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) and 95 Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs) to increase housing density near transit nodes. This initiative supports the Province’s target of building 285,000 homes by 2031, aided by $471.1 million from the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund. The new policies set minimum height and density standards, require Inclusionary Zoning for affordable units, and focus on sustainable development around transit nodes. Some areas, pending provincial approval, remain on hold due to possible impacts on historic flood plains.

The Centre for Housing Innovation (CHI) at Toronto Metropolitan University's DMZ aims to foster collaboration across the Canadian housing industry to address the housing crisis. Backed by a $3.5 million federal investment, CHI offers an Accelerator to support early-stage housing technologies and a program for industry upskilling. The initiative brings together various stakeholders, including corporations, policymakers, and researchers, to implement real-world housing solutions. Companies like Pakville and Adaptis are already demonstrating innovative uses of recycled materials and AI to improve housing efficiency and sustainability.

Work has begun on the Scarborough Centre station, part of a 7.8 km extension of Toronto's Danforth Line 2, marking an important milestone for the expansion of rapid transit in Scarborough. This extension replaces the former Scarborough RT and is part of a longstanding debate over transit options in the area, which now includes a mix of subway and light rail projects. The new station is expected to serve as a multimodal hub, enhanced by planned regional and city-wide bus services, as well as a forthcoming Bus Rapid Transit line. The project aims to reduce travel times from Scarborough Centre to downtown Toronto significantly.

The plans for a mixed-use tower on 1075 Bay Street in Toronto have been revised, removing office space due to decreased demand. Canderel Residential now proposes a 62-storey building primarily for residential use, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects. This comes after previous iterations in 2019 and 2021 which included significant office space. The updated proposal includes a greater number of residential units and involves features for public access and transportation infrastructure improvements in the vicinity.

On September 14, 2025, Canada's Prime Minister launched the Build Canada Homes (BCH) initiative, aiming to build affordable housing to combat homelessness and provide low-income and middle-class housing. The plan has received positive reactions from entities like the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The Canadian Wood Council appreciates the focus on factory-built housing and Canadian materials, highlighting the importance of modular and prefabricated systems in construction. The BCH initiative, with a $13 billion budget, involves partnerships with various levels of government and private developers.

In Ottawa, a long-term care home has been completed, providing support to seniors in the area. Meanwhile, Peterborough, Prescott, and Lancaster have begun construction on similar projects. These developments are part of efforts by the Ontario government to enhance long-term care facilities across Eastern Ontario. The announcement signifies progress in addressing the needs of aging populations in these communities.

A major milestone has been completed for the Northlander passenger rail service with the new North Bay Rail Bypass in northern Ontario. The bypass stretches 982 meters and is designed to cut travel times to North Bay Station by 15 minutes. This development ensures that trains will no longer run through the busy North Bay Rail.

The Stella is a residential development project in Etobicoke's Six Points area, featuring 26- and 30-storey rental towers designed by Henriquez Partners Architects. The project, part of Toronto’s Housing Now program, is three months ahead of schedule and contributes significantly to the city's affordable housing plans. The development is located on City-owned land and is part of efforts to create Toronto’s first net-zero community, integrating a district energy system for low-carbon heating and cooling. Upon completion, The Stella will provide 725 rental homes, with plans for more housing projects in the area underway.

In a recent announcement, the Canadian government unveiled five projects that its newly established Major Projects Office aims to expedite through the approval process. However, the Highway 401 tunnel project, considered by Ontario Premier Doug Ford as a potential nation-building initiative, was not included on this list. Ford expressed optimism that the tunnel will eventually be recognized for its national significance. Despite the omission, Ford remains hopeful about the project's future inclusion in the government's fast-tracking agenda.

The Government of Ontario is investing over $6.3 million in a new multi-season arena at Curve Lake First Nation and $10 million for the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre. These projects, part of the $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, aim to enhance local facilities and promote active living. The new arena in Curve Lake will offer year-round activities including hockey and lacrosse, while the South Bowmanville centre will include amenities like a gymnasium, swimming pool, and skating trail. These investments are expected to boost community wellness and economic growth by attracting major sporting events.