Province rewards Guelph $4.68M for making gains on housing targets

The City of Guelph is getting $4.68 million in funding from the provincial government as a reward for making "substantial progress" when it comes to meeting housing targets.

"I applaud the work being done by Guelph and all the other municipalities that are making substantial progress toward their 2031 housing targets," said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, at an announcement downtown Guelph on Thursday.

The funding is given to municipalities that reach at least 80 per cent of their housing targets each year, with increased funding for those that exceed the target.

"I've gone to a lot of other places where they have excuse after excuse of why they can't get a shovel in the ground," Calandra said. "When I come to a community like this, you remove those obstacles. You find ways of getting it done, while at the same time, preserving and protecting what is most important to the people of your community."

Province rewards Guelph $4.68M for making gains on housing targets

9 months ago

Duration 1:01

The City of Guelph is getting $4.68 million in funding from the provincial government as a reward for making "substantial progress" when it comes to meeting housing targets.

The province aims to build 1.5 million homes by 2031 - 18,000 of those are set to be in Guelph.

"I am proud to tell everyone that Guelph met 98 per cent of our provincially set target for 2031," Guthrie said. "We approved 13 residential conversions and added 29 long-term care beds as well. This is no easy task given that cities approve housing, but we don't build them."

In total, Guelph broke ground on 1,287 new housing units last year.

The money is part of the Building Faster Fund — a three-year, $1.2-billion program that is "designed to encourage municipalities to address the housing supply crisis," according to a release. 

"The provincial Building Faster Fund will help Guelph address the housing crisis in our community," said Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie.

In February, Guthrie said he will use strong mayor powers to address the need for housing in his city.

"I have an obligation to thoughtfully consider what is under my control or in my toolbox to help people, especially when it comes to affordability and housing," he said at the time.