Thread by @LaurenPelley

We're just wrapping up a teleconference with provincial officials on the Ford government's housing supply plan. Both @CBCQueensPark and I were on the call. Lots to report on, and of interest to Toronto, but it's embargoed until the official announcement at 10:30 a.m. Stay tuned.

The province’s announcement about its housing supply plan starts at 10:30, and will be livestreamed here: m.youtube.com/c/Governmentof…

That’s also when the embargo lifts — so I’ll be able to share details from this morning’s technical briefing.

Remarks beginning now on the province's housing supply plan, with housing and municipal affairs minister @SteveClarkPC:

The province is announcing new legislative and policy changes this morning, all part of a sweeping plan aimed at increasing the housing supply.

It’s a “very large bill,” provincial officials say.

One key change: The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, which replaced the Ontario Municipal Board, could look a lot more like its controversial predecessor.

The province wants LPAT to be allowed to make decisions based on what it deems the “best” planning outcome instead of just whether or not municipal decisions align with provincial policies, which will “broaden” LPAT’s jurisdiction.

In other words, LPAT — like the OMB before it — will stand in the place of municipalities when it comes to decision-making.

This, after the previous Liberal government overhauled the board to reduce its ability to override municipal decisions.

The province is also planning to invest $11.4 million into LPAT and hire 11 adjudicators to clear backlogged cases, provincial officials say.

Another detail: The province wants to make it easier for people to build secondary suites by changing both the planning act and development charges act.

The legislation will clarify that municipalities *need* to allow secondary suites both in a main home and secondary buildings like a coach house or garage.

New homes would also be exempt from development charges for secondary suites.

A big element of the province's plan is also reducing "red tape" for developers.

It's about reducing layers of permits, encouraging builders, says @SteveClarkPC. "We'll address the missing middle shortage by making it easier to build different types of housing," he adds.

@SteveClarkPC The province is also focusing on updating the growth plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, to encourage the development of more and different forms of housing (near transit in particular.)

@SteveClarkPC There's also some pot-related stuff in all this today.

Province is looking at closing a loophole in the Cannabis Control Act which meant police couldn't close illegal dispensaries in residential areas. It will make sure "housing is used for housing," provincial officials say.

@SteveClarkPC @SteveClarkPC answering questions now.

Says province is trying to take the best of both the OMB, LPAT. Hopes to reduce the backlog currently at LPAT. "We can't continue to have a system where you're waiting 24 or 36 months for a hearing," he says. "We need to do better."

@SteveClarkPC The three key prongs of the province's housing supply plan, dubbed "More Homes, More Choice":

1) Cut red tape
2) Make housing more affordable
3) Help taxpayers keep more of their income

The full 17-page plan document:
files.ontario.ca/mmah-housing-s…

@SteveClarkPC @SteveClarkPC again talking about development charges, saying the province has "struck the right balance." Success with the plan as a whole will be "shovels in the ground," he says.

Early story up now: cbc.ca/news/canada/to…

Development charges are a big piece of this plan. One factor is the province aiming to postpone development charges for rental buildings, until the units are rented, in hopes of encouraging more rental development.

While the province talks about boosting housing supply, will it actually be affordable?

Last year, the Ford government scrapped rent control for any new units. So anything built going forward could experience big price increases, advocates have warned: cbc.ca/news/canada/to…

A big day at Queen’s Park with the province tabling legislation on boosting the housing supply, uploading subway expansion:

https://twitter.com/cbcqueenspark/status/1124001686656253952?s=21

Another key piece of the province's housing plan is a to-be-determined cap on development charges, which are the fees collected from developers by municipalities to fund infrastructure.

I've spoken to several councillors who say this doesn't bode well for Toronto's budget.

Inbox: Mayor Tory has released a statement on the province’s new housing plan. He says there’s a need for “governments to work together to speed up the increase in rental housing supply” but has several concerns about a return to the OMB style ways, and about development charges:

First @joe_cressy was accused of fear mongering by the province, over his comments on public health cuts.

Now it’s @JoshMatlow’s turn, over his comments on the province’s housing supply plan:

https://twitter.com/steveclarkpc/status/1124022811129995264?s=21

@joe_cressy @JoshMatlow Journalists like me keep on refreshing this page to try and actually read the province's full housing supply legislation but, no dice yet. Join the party: ola.org/en/legislative…

@joe_cressy @JoshMatlow It's up, so party time begins... aka frantically reading since I'm live on TV at 6pm: ola.org/en/legislative…

@joe_cressy @JoshMatlow Quick takeaway from the province's new housing supply legislation: It's mammoth.

Touches on various acts, including cannabis control, conservation, development charges, education, endangered species, environmental assessment/protection, labour relations, LPAT...

@joe_cressy @JoshMatlow ...occupational health and safety, heritage, the planning act, workplace safety and insurance.

Coming up next on @CBCToronto I’ll have a recap of major policy changes stemming from the province’s housing supply plan — and why some critics are concerned. Tune in: facebook.com/cbctoronto