Ontario Rewards Kingston with $3.2 Million for Exceeding 2023 Housing Targets

April 4, 2024 – In a significant announcement made today, Paul Calandra, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, declared a $3.2 million reward for the city of Kingston through the Building Faster Fund. This reward comes as a result of Kingston’s outstanding achievement in exceeding its 2023 housing targets, with the city breaking ground on an impressive 1,465 new housing units in the previous year.

The Building Faster Fund, announced in August 2023, is a forward-thinking, three-year initiative with a budget of $1.2 billion. Its purpose is to catalyze municipalities across Ontario to tackle the ongoing housing supply crisis by rewarding those that achieve and surpass their housing targets. This fund emphasizes the development of housing- and community-enabling infrastructure, aiming to facilitate a more rapid and efficient increase in housing supply.

Minister Calandra lauded Kingston and other municipalities for their exceptional efforts in contributing to the province’s housing goals. “I applaud the work being done by Kingston and all the other municipalities that have met or exceeded their housing targets. It’s inspiring to see these communities leading the way in homebuilding,” said Calandra. He further emphasized the importance of collective action and the provincial government’s commitment to supporting municipalities through significant investments, including more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure.

Kingston’s achievement not only signifies a substantial contribution to addressing the housing shortage but also aligns with the broader provincial goals. Mayor Bryan Paterson expressed gratitude for the provincial support and highlighted the importance of such programs in fostering community development and ensuring the availability of affordable and accessible housing.

John Jordan, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, extended his congratulations to Mayor Paterson and the Kingston team for their dedication and successful efforts. “The City of Kingston has not only met the challenge but also exceeded the housing project targets significantly, which is a testament to the hard work of skilled professionals at every level,” Jordan remarked.

This funding is part of Ontario’s historic investment in housing and community infrastructure, including the Building Faster Fund and the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund. In addition to the Building Faster Fund, the province recently unveiled a new $1 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and significantly increased the provincial Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund to $825 million.

The remarkable progress in housing development across Ontario is reflected in the province reaching 99% of its target to introduce 110,000 new homes in 2023. This includes housing starts, additional residential units, and new and upgraded long-term care beds. With a record number of 18,992 rental starts in 2023, Ontario is making substantial strides towards addressing the housing crisis and improving the quality of life for its residents.

The achievement of Kingston and the supportive framework provided by the Ontario government through the Building Faster Fund and other initiatives are pivotal steps towards ensuring that the housing needs of the community are met. This collaborative effort between the provincial government and municipalities is crucial for continuing the momentum in addressing the housing supply crisis in Ontario.