Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon says Greenbelt revision needs to be done with housing in mind

Progressive Conservative MPP for Kitchener South-Hespeler Jess Dixon says any second look to the Greenbelt land swap needs to be done with housing in mind.

Dixon told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition that Ontario is "dramatically behind" when it comes to housing, as people and new comers coming to the province need a place to live.

"When the Greenbelt was first created, the levels of immigration we're seeing, they weren't in the forecast, they weren't incorporated into the spread sheet and we need to absolutely have a place to put people," she said.

"You're seeing stories of people coming in, immigrants and students that are living on the street because we aren't prepared, so at the end of the day tough decisions need to be made because people need homes."

On Monday, former housing minister Steve Clark resigned amid the Greenbelt land swap controversy, sparking a cabinet shuffle which saw Clark replaced by Paul Calandra.

Dixon said the province's housing file is complex and a "very tough file," adding Clark's resignation was made  in consideration of Ontario's Integrity Commissioner's report.

"In all of my dealing with minister Clark, he's been an upstanding man that I think was doing the best. It is not an easy file," she said.

Wants to see more family-style apartments built

Dixon said each level of government has their own responsibilities when it comes to housing and the country's housing crisis has pushed everyone to work together, which can be a challenge. 

"The imputes is so clear now. It's forcing a bit more cooperation than perhaps existed in the past," she said.

Dixon also said she would like to see more development of family-style apartments going forward, an idea that is popular in Europe and something she says she has been vocal about at Queen's Park.

"I really do think that we can accomplish that here. We have very, very innovative minds in urban development in Waterloo region," she said.

In the weeks leading up to the return to Queen's Park, Dixon said she'll be focusing on police and community safety and providing context to the community when it comes to some issues in the criminal justice system.

"I've been working on trying to add a little bit of context when people talk about bail reform and what do they actually mean," she said.

"It's meaningful to the province but it's also meaningful here because people are frustrated, they're seeing articles in the paper." 

You can listen to the full interview with Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon below: