Ontario Liberals are taking a page out of the Ford government’s housing affordability task force with a new housing proposal.
It is calling for the construction of four-plexes.
The task force recommended two years ago zoning and building code changes to permit four-unit, four-story homes.
The Green Party recently put forward a private member’s bill to allow for four-plexes in residential areas.
Liberal Housing Critic Dr. Adil Shamji says their plan differs from the Green’s.
“What we’ve done with this bill is not just taken the idea of fourplexes and made it possible and permissible, but we’ve laid out concretely the steps that need to happen and eliminated the barriers,” says Shamji.
“So unlike the Green party legislation, which is respectfully symbolic, this is ready to go. We’ve done our homework, and it’s ready to be enacted into legislation, into law immediately.”
Shamji says it can make housing more affordable.
“If you’re a young person, this will help you achieve the dream of homeownership. If you already have a home, this will raise the value of your property but lower the price of rent or homeownership for others. If you’re a parent or a grandparent, this will help your family stay together and build multigenerational communities.”
The Ford government directed the Green Party’s proposal to the committee level for further study.
Shamji says if the government does not act on the proposal, the Liberals will make it part of their campaign platform in the 2026 provincial election.
