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The Citizen invited the candidates for the municipal elections on October 24 to share their thoughts:
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There has been a lot of talk recently about empowering municipalities to build more housing to help tackle skyrocketing home prices. The throne’s recent speech in Queens Park highlighted the issue of building more housing units in Ontario, and fast. The province is pushing for more homes to be built “faster” with a goal of building 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years across Ontario. The province also emphasized its focus on removing regulatory barriers and wisely expanding transit-oriented development.
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It is clear that the province is serious to the dramatic point of giving powerful veto power over city council decisions to the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa. It’s an important and laudable goal that dates back to the days of building veterans’ housing after World War II, and the urgent and colossal effort it took to house a nation. All levels of government will be required to work closely on a national housing strategy.
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The key theme of the strategy should be the construction of entire neighborhoods, rather than just houses. The result of housing cannot simply be a dense, barren field of houses without the services that make the areas livable and enjoyable. Municipalities are likely to be able to approve many more homes, but the new owners expect advances in a reliable transportation and transit network. Fortunately, the federal and provincial governments have committed to investing in infrastructure and providing a reliable share of gas taxes.
Similarly, any rapid increase in housing starts will need to be accompanied by the timely construction of local green parks and recreational facilities. New housing development will further fuel commercial development and hopefully energize planned employment lands outside of the city center.
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The city will also need to put energy and staff effort into approving commercial and institutional development. The focus must be on building balanced communities where residents can work, live and play in their own neighborhood.
Schools are not a municipal jurisdiction, but it goes without saying that the education system needs to keep up with residential growth. Residents are frustrated when school playgrounds fill with 20-plus portables in high-growth areas like Findlay Creek or the long wait for a public high school in Riverside South. Our school boards are feeling the growing pains and will also need a helping hand to keep up with the growth in housing.
Effective partnerships will also help promote additional affordable housing spaces, such as the recent Veterans House initiative that was built on surplus federal land. When it comes to building viable neighborhoods, all three levels of government will be required to work toward the same goal. It should come as no surprise that it takes a town to, well, actually build a town for Ottawa residents.
I am committed to working with key partners and stakeholders to once again achieve results for the residents and businesses of Riverside South and Findlay Creek. please visit www.stevedesroches.com or follow @SteveDesroches.
Steve Desroches is a former City Councilman and candidate in District 22, Riverside South-Findlay Creek.