Ontario gives Brampton $25.5 million for being on track with 2023 housing targets

Ontario Premier Doug Ford handed Brampton a cheque for more than $25.5 million Friday, saying the city has made tremendous progress in meeting provincial housing targets.

According to the province's housing tracker, the city met 85 per cent of its mandated single-year 2023 goal. As a result, Brampton has been given millions in funding that Ford said could go to building even more homes.

"Brampton's progress in building more homes has just been absolutely incredible," Ford said. 

"They're getting it done. We need other municipalities to follow their lead." 

As part of its effort to address the province's housing crisis amid its growing population, the Ontario government has promised to build 1.5 million new homes in Ontario by 2031. The Ford government set specific housing targets for 50 of the largest municipalities across the province, and Brampton's share is 113,000.

There were some 7,028 housing starts in Brampton last year, while the target was set at 8,287.

As a whole, the province reached 99 per cent of its target of 110,000 new homes, which includes housing starts, additional residential units, and new and upgraded long-term care beds, according to a news release.

The provincial funding comes from the Building Faster Fund, a three-year, $1.2-billion pot made to address the housing crisis and help municipalities cover housing-related costs, such as infrastructure. Funding is given to municipalities that have reached at least 80 per cent of their housing targets for the year.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said "we are very happy in Brampton today, and even happier with this cheque presentation to help us build more housing." 

He said Brampton approved 12,432 housing units, in addition to 4,494 net new additional units that were registered in the city last year. 

"We are making huge strides," Brown said. 

Brampton's population growth has been "explosive," which makes the housing crisis "unique" in the city, he said. 

"Our commitment in this city to build housing is one that is determined and genuine," Brown said. "There will be no red tape to make sure a young person can afford a home in our city." 

Friday was the second consecutive announcement from Ford about money from the Building Faster Fund. On Thursday, he presented Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow with a cheque for $114 million after the city exceeded its 2023 housing target by 51 per cent.