Housing legislation and infrastructure funding were key priorities as Ontario’s Big City Mayors gathered in Pickering last week for their annual general meeting and conference.
The two-day event, held Thursday and Friday and hosted by Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe, brought together mayors from across the province, including Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff, along with provincial ministers, federal housing representatives and municipal leaders.
Discussions focused on new and proposed initiatives, including early input into the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build program, as well as ongoing advocacy around municipal issues such as Bill 9, legislation related to a municipal code of conduct that has yet to be called for third reading.
Several provincial cabinet members attended the conference, including Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and Associate Attorney General Michael Tibollo.
A central theme throughout the conference was the need for stronger collaboration between municipal, provincial and federal governments to accelerate housing construction while ensuring local needs are reflected in decision-making.
Mayors also met with officials involved in federal housing efforts, including Build Canada Homes CEO Ana Bailão, who outlined details of the national housing program and highlighted opportunities for municipalities to help speed up the construction of affordable and supportive housing.
Ontario’s Big City Mayors said municipalities are seeking commitments from senior levels of government to offset revenue losses tied to reduced development charges and to ensure any savings are passed on to homebuyers.
“We are encouraged by the commitment from provincial and federal governments to accelerate housing construction and invest in the infrastructure needed to support growing communities. Municipalities are on the front lines delivering essential services—from water and wastewater to roads, policing, and community spaces—funded largely through the property tax base. It is critical that we are included as full partners in designing programs that fund housing-enabling infrastructure, so residents receive the services they need,” said Marianne Meed Ward, chair of Ontario’s Big City Mayors and mayor of Burlington.
Ontario’s Big City Mayors is a non-partisan group representing 29 municipalities with populations of 100,000 or more, accounting for about 70 per cent of Ontario’s population and nearly 30 per cent of Canada’s population.
