Like it or not, federal and provincial downloading has forced Canadian
municipalities into the housing business. Homelessness is the most
visible symptom of this shifting in responsibility but it is not the
only housing problem faced by Canadians. Demand for housing suitable for
single parents, elderly individuals needing supportive services and
those with disabilities continues to grow.
Across Canada, municipalities fight to provide adequate housing for
their citizens by turning the process that regulates real estate
development into a tool to provide housing opportunities for our diverse
population.
Unfortunately, many of the measures available to municipalities work
best in hot markets, large developments or higher-density neighbourhoods
– conditions that do not describe enough of this vast country.
Municipal efforts are also frustrated when concessions made to
developers are not passed on as savings to consumers. Furthermore, not
every province has specific legislation to back up municipal
initiatives.
However, some municipalities have winning strategies:
In provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia,
laws are in place to allow municipalities to offer developers "the
carrot" of permission for larger buildings or additional density. In
return, developers provide community centres, social housing units or
new roads that benefit the community.
The City of Vancouver uses inclusionary zoning bylaws that
require major developments to automatically include 20 % social housing.
Many Ontario municipalities have similar land use policies. However,
inclusionary zoning does not encourage developers to build since being
forced to provide below-market-value housing cuts into their profits.
Banff, Alberta, attacked the problem of housing shortages for
employees of the booming tourism industry by requiring commercial
developers to contribute to a fund for affordable housing. British
Columbia's hot Whistler resort area follows a similar plan. In areas
struggling to attract commercial development, these extra fees may be
considered counter productive.
In Calgary (Alberta), Saskatoon (Saskatchewan), North Vancouver
(B.C.), and Laval (Quebec), development fees paid by developers to cover
the cost of sewers, roads, parks and other necessary services are set in
proportion to the size of building lots (frontage) involved. Adjusting
municipal fees for smaller lots and units encourages developers to set
lower prices for smaller units and lots.
Later this month, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) [ADD
LINK www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca], our national housing agency, plans to issue
an 80-page research report entitled Municipal Planning for
Affordable Housing "to better create awareness of existing measures
to create new affordable housing." CMHC has combined previous research
with a mail-out survey and focused workshops in 6 urban regions to
identify practical measures for municipalities across Canada to use in
support of local housing markets.
Since federal and provincial governments have downloaded
responsibilities for housing onto municipalities, it seems only fair
that those governments help communities more effectively house their
citizens without shifting all the financial burden to taxpayers.
Published: July 18, 2000
Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
 Futurist and Strategist PJ Wade is "The Catalyst" -- intent on "Challenging The Best Become Even Better." PJ earned this title by translating the dynamic impact of Boomers and their multi-generation families into relevant insights that start people thinking and taking action—in business and in life.
Author of 7 books and more than 1600 published articles, PJ encourages individuals to become their own futurist. PJ writes and speaks about the insight, knowledge and solid decision-making skills that professionals and their clients need to live and work in this vortex of change. For instance, since PJ knows that home is headquarters for the new decades-long "unretirement," she wrote the popular book "Reverse Mortgages: Best Friend, Worst Enemy... Your Choice! (CatapultPublishing.com), which is filled with suggestions and insight on protecting and using home equity. Her new business book, "What's Your Point?," which identifies 7 common mistakes professionals unknowingly repeat to their detriment, will be published in 2009.
As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors -- and the clients they serve. A frequently-quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking -- a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more on blogs, books and topics, visit TheCatalyst.com. |
