London-area politicians have been given housing responsibilities. What are their plans?

London is in the middle of a housing crisis. 

The region has also been thrust into the centre of national and provincial conversations about how to fix the problem. 

The city's development of a unique housing plan to help homelessness was closely watched at last month's Association of Municipalities of Ontario meeting, and last week London learned it would get $74-million for local housing development. In addition, two politicians have been appointed to housing portfolios in their governments.

After the resignation of Steve Clark from his position as Ontario's Housing Minister and an ensuing cabinet shuffle, Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack was named Ontario's new Associate Minister of Housing.

More recently, it was announced that London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos has been appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the federal Minister of Housing.

CBC London Morning guest host Travis Dolynny spoke with Flack and Fragiskatos to hear about their priorities, and why they believe London is at the heart of the housing conversation.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Travis Dolynny: What is the primary objective of your new role?

Rob Flack: We have a housing crisis in in Ontario. I would say it's the biggest crisis, the biggest opportunity as well throughout this country. We need to get 1.5 million homes built by 2031. 

Peter Fragiskatos: I'll be working with Housing Minister Sean Fraser to get things built, to get home-starts going again, taking advantage of the federal role, working with provinces and municipalities in particular.

TD: We heard the Federal Housing minister used the term legalizing housing when he was in London last week. It was about removing red tape to allow homes to be built. Peter, can you give an example of one thing that you want changed to legalize housing?

PF: Across the country we have places for the missing middle. The missing middle, of course, being triplexes, duplexes, row houses, mid rise apartments. Some communities are opening a path for such housing to exist within areas that have traditionally been zoned for single-detached homes. We need all types of homes. It's about citizens recognizing that building needs to happen and attitudes need to change.

TD: Rob, what would be one thing that you would want change to legalize housing?

RF: One particular thing is to take a look at modular and attainable homes. I'm also going to really explore taking a look at where we can get shovels in the ground quickly, working with our municipal partners, taking a look at publicly-owned land to try and get that supply chain filled quickly. 

TD: Peter, we saw in London that bylaws had to change to free up federal funding for housing to allow more dwellings on one property. Now, what advice would you give Rob for working well with the City of London?

PF: Rob doesn't need advice from me in that regard. He's going to bring his business acumen and has already done so to his work as a member of provincial parliament. There's a range of issues that federal governments and provincial governments will disagree on. Housing cannot be one of them. We cannot be partisan on this issue. This is where we work together. This is where we put politics aside.

RF: I don't see this as a a partisan issue. I'm really looking forward to working with Peter because we share common goals to get the job done. It really is about speed and if we can cut red tape, if we can get governments out of the way to allow logical, practical, good solutions to get shovels in the ground.

TD: London has been highlighted on the housing front. What do you think makes London a city to watch?

RF: London is a microcosm of the problem. It's a mix of high density housing and a mix of smaller communities surrounding it. I'm convinced London is going to be the example for the province and the country as to how we can speed up and create more homes.