Oakville Council pledges 33,000 new housing approvals

Work already underway will achieve 10-year pledge

At the March 20, 2023 Special Council meeting, Town Council unanimously approved the Housing Pledge the Province assigned to Oakville in October 2022.

The pledge outlines how Council can facilitate the approvals of 33,000 new housing units over the next decade. Oakville recognizes its role in approval of applications, not in building housing units.

The pledge highlights 18 specific actions Oakville needs from the Province to support its pledge, including funding and delivering capital projects in and around Oakville. The Province’s anticipated surge in population will also require a provincial commitment to build supporting institutions such as schools, hospitals, daycares, and long-term care facilities; in addition to continued investment and support for local and regional public transit.

Oakville has implemented the necessary policies and process improvements to accommodate the provincially mandated housing target of 33,000 new units, if all partners in Oakville’s housing development system do their part. If market and other conditions are not favourable for developers to submit applications or build, Oakville will not see the 33,000 new units.

Oakville’s ability to facilitate housing is by setting the land use policy and co-ordinate the delivery of infrastructure. Oakville and Halton Region are not in a financial position to cover the costs of provincially mandated growth. The town is relying on the guarantee by the Province on November 30, 2022 that stated: “There should be no funding shortfall for housing enabling infrastructure because of Bill 23, provided municipalities achieve and exceed their housing pledge levels and growth targets.”

Background

• Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 was released on October 25, 2022 and received Royal Assent on November 28, 2022. Municipal housing pledges, although non-binding, are part of the approved legislation and the province intends to use municipal pledges to monitor and track progress, support municipalities, and remove barriers to housing development.
• The town’s urban structure provides for the protection of the town’s natural heritage, open space and cultural heritage and maintains the character of residential areas by directing growth to an identified system of centres and corridors which will accommodate the majority of new housing growth in the town.

At the Council Meeting on March 20, 2023, Council directed staff to send Oakville’s Housing Pledge report to Halton Region’s Clerk requesting Halton Region’s continued support to deliver the necessary infrastructure and advance Oakville’s required housing units. The report and a letter was sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, representing Oakville’s response to the Province of Ontario’s Housing Pledge.

Quote

“Council and town staff will do our part to increase housing supply in order to address the immediate need for new housing including market-based, attainable, affordable, social, and assisted, for all tenancies. Fulfilling our pledge is contingent on the actions of our federal and provincial partners; as well as the development and housing industry. Council is committed to ensure that our growing community continues to thrive and shine.”

Mayor Rob Burton