The Town of Whitby said it is reviewing the potential local impacts of the Ontario government’s newly introduced Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, which aims to accelerate housing and infrastructure development by streamlining approvals and reducing costs.
Announced on May 12, the legislation is part of the province’s broader strategy to address Ontario’s housing crisis in close partnership with municipalities. The new measures include simplifying development charges, cutting red tape, and creating more consistency across municipal planning processes.
In response, Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy acknowledged the urgency of the housing crisis while underlining the importance of thoughtful growth.
“As the mother of three adult children who are actively trying to enter the housing market, I understand firsthand how urgent and personal the housing crisis has become for many families,” said Mayor Roy. “I support the goal of building more homes, faster, and increasing supply so that housing becomes more accessible and affordable for everyone.”
While recognizing the need for additional housing, Mayor Roy emphasized the town’s commitment to ensuring that any new growth is supported by appropriate infrastructure and meets the community’s long-term needs.
“Our residents expect housing solutions that are not only fast, but also well-planned, sustainable, and supported by infrastructure that makes neighbourhoods complete like parks, schools, community centres and safe roads,” she said.
The legislation proposes several measures, including:
- Standardizing and simplifying development charges in consultation with municipalities;
- Streamlining land-use planning approvals and building standards;
- Supporting transit-oriented developments and reducing delays for major transit projects;
- Promoting the use of innovative materials and construction systems to lower building costs;
- Introducing consultations to harmonize municipal road-building standards across Ontario’s 444 municipalities.
To support this initiative, the province is also increasing its investment in housing-enabling infrastructure, adding $400 million in immediate funding to the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Fund — bringing the total to nearly $2.3 billion over four years.
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