Civil and Municipal - Jan 2024

the well-being of its residents. ONTARIO’S HOUSING CRISIS Even with pre-emptive evaluation, one of The Nation Municipality’s biggest challenges remains the ongoing housing crisis, a common issue across many Ontario regions. Joint factors influenced the housing deficit, with insufficient federal and provincial funding playing pivotal roles. Canada has 424 housing units per 1,000 residents, the least among the G7 countries (the G7 average is 471 per 1,000 people). Ontario’s available residences per capita are the direst in the country; the province needs another 650,000 dwellings to meet the requirement. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of Ontario homes jumped by 334,000, reaching 6 million, the largest increase in Canada. Because of a lack of affordable buying options and few financial incentives, rental costs in the province have risen to $2,125 per month, compared to the national average of $1,370. These lease payments devour 67% of the average resident’s net monthly income of $3,163. The Assembly of First Nations report highlights the financial gap, showing a need for $44 billion to meet current on-reserve housing needs and an added $16 billion to accommodate projected population growth. Despite the federal government’s commitment of $4 billion over seven years, including $2.4 billion for housing on First Nations reserves, this falls short of the identified requirements. The broader housing affordability crisis extends beyond indigenous communities, signaling systemic challenges in housing. Ontario faces a deficit in the supply of homes, a concern pinpointed by reports such as the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force. While funding shortages are a critical factor, other elements contribute to the issue’s complexity. Delays in construction projects escalate costs and limit the prompt delivery of housing solutions. The logistical challenges in housing are diverse and hinder the efficient development of affordable responses. Stringent regulations and bureaucratic processes slow building projects, leading to increased costs. 73 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 01 THE NAT ION (LA NAT ION) , ON