Tall & Urban News

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on 2 April 2024 that municipalities seeking a portion of the Government of Canada’s upcoming new Permanent Transit Fund must adhere to a federal mandate: they must facilitate transit-oriented housing development.

This requirement mandates municipal governments to facilitate housing development near public transit to qualify for the new annual federal subsidy aimed at enhancing public transit infrastructure. This involves permitting high-density residential uses within 800 meters of high-frequency public transit services, such as frequent bus services, streetcars, light rail transit, and subways, as well as within 800 meters of post-secondary education institutions.

Moreover, all minimum vehicle parking requirements within 800 meters of high-frequency public transit services would be abolished. Additionally, a new federal Housing Needs Assessment would be mandatory for all jurisdictions with populations exceeding 30,000.

Trudeau's announcement also introduced a new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. This fund will cover the costs associated with constructing new, improved, and expanded water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure to support increased residential density and population growth. In exchange for this federal funding, provincial governments must mandate their municipal counterparts to permit gentle densification, with a minimum of four units permitted on a single-family lot, and freeze development cost charges/fees on new residential construction for three years.

These announcements precede the 2024 federal budget announcement scheduled for later this month.

Read more about this story at Daily Hive.