City of Burlington secures $21M from Housing Accelerator Fund

Today the Government of Canada and the City of Burlington announced a $21 million agreement to encourage more affordable homes for Burlington, built faster. Today’s announcement was attended by the Honourable Minister Karina Gould, MP for Oakville North – Burlington Pam Damoff, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Deputy Mayor of Housing, Burlington Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte.

The funding is through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). HAF is an application-based program that provides funding directly to municipalities across the country to incentivize and support initiatives that will accelerate the supply of housing.

Action Plan for this investment in Burlington

These funds will support the implementation of some of the key actions in the City’s Housing Strategy, including expanding housing opportunities for Burlington residents by cutting red tape and implementing updated zoning.

As Burlington continues to grow, this significant investment will support the development of complete, low-carbon, and climate-resilient communities that are affordable, inclusive, equitable and diverse.

The City’s HAF Action Plan includes seven initiatives:

  1. Streamlining planning and building approval process.
  2. Implementing Major Transit Station Areas and Community Planning Permit System.
  3. Support and encourage the creation of additional residential units and consider opportunities to increase as of right permissions. Burlington is proposing four units as of right and a no parking minimum pilot within a specific geographic area.
  4. Identify opportunities to incentivize the creation of rental and non-market housing.
  5. Build community and partner capacity by creating a Housing Connections Centre.
  6. Public lands and partnerships.
  7. Municipal infrastructure needs.

Quicker Approvals

One of the City’s proposed projects focuses around Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) and the development of a new tool, the Community Planning Permit System (CPPS). This will allow for quicker approvals on high-density developments without the need for re-zoning.

Housing Connections Centre

Another key initiative to support this Action Plan is the Housing Connections Centre. This centre will provide residents and developers resources like:

  • standard unit designs
  • ways to connect with partners,
  • access to incentives, and
  • information about
    • the benefits of diverse neighbourhoods and
    • how creating new housing can provide options for all Burlington residents

Quick Facts

The Housing Accelerator Fund helps cut red tape and fast track at least 100,000 new homes for people in towns, cities, and Indigenous communities across the country. It asks for innovative action plans from local governments, and once approved, provides upfront funding to ensure the timely building of new homes, as well as additional funds upon delivering results. Every agreement under the Housing Accelerator Fund will require municipalities to end exclusionary zoning and encourage apartment building around public transit in order to help seniors, students, and families. Local governments are encouraged to think big and be bold in their approaches, which could include accelerating project timelines, allowing increased housing density, and encouraging affordable housing units

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