A News Release shared by Niagara, Ontario resident Fiona McMurran and a member of The Alliance For A Liveable Ontario
Posted September 8th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Toronto — A powerful coalition of private developers, non-profit housing providers, and civil society leaders is calling on the federal government to launch an ambitious “nation-building” plan to build one million affordable homes for low- and middle-income Canadians.
Their proposal includes dedicating 1% of Canada’s GDP to non-market housing—framing the initiative not just as a policy fix, but as a nation-building project on par with historic infrastructure efforts.
In a letter sent to Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, the 16 signatories note “[I]if the Canadian Government can commit 5% of GDP to the military to appease the U.S. President, surely our Federal Government should be open to committing 1% of GDP to directly benefit millions of Canadians for decades to come.”
“The St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood in Toronto shows how we can do this,” said former Toronto Mayor David Crombie, one of the signatories.
“Back in the 1970s, the Feds came up with the financing, the private developers built the units, and the non-profits, specifically housing co-ops, continue renting them at affordable rates. We urgently need more of these partnerships now.”
The letter to the Minister outlines the growing need for affordable homes in Canada. It notes private developers partnering with non-profit housing providers can supply this need with government and philanthropic investment.
The letter outlines three strategies the Federal Government should follow:
- Embed non-market community housing within all new market-led multi-residential housing developments.
- Create purpose built non-market community housing developments.
- Incentivize and motivate philanthropic capital to invest in affordable housing.
One action the government can take immediately is “converting existing unsold condo inventory… into affordable homes owned and operated by non-profit housing providers.”
“We’re urging the Federal Government to partner with developers and non-profit housing providers to build affordable units now,” said Crombie.
“The economic benefits would be huge and it would keep construction workers employed. Millions of Canadians would benefit. This is nation-building at its best.”
For more on The Alliance For A Liveable Ontario, click on – https://www.liveableontario.ca/
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