Ontario Expanding Power of ‘Strong Mayors’ and Establishing $1.2B Housing Incentive Fund

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expanding the powers of mayors, commonly known as strong mayor powers, to 49 communities in the province. Additionally, Ford is providing incentives worth $1.2 billion to encourage cities and towns to reach their housing targets.
Ford made this announcement at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s conference on Monday. The province’s housing starts are currently below the required level to achieve the premier’s goal of constructing 1.5 million homes by 2031.
The province is facing increasing population growth, which has put pressure on the government to build more housing. Ford has defended his controversial decision to allow housing development in protected Greenbelt areas, citing the need to accommodate the growing population.



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