This paper authored by Frank Clayton examines the degree to which the recent decision by the Council of Halton Region regarding future regional housing and land needs during 2021-2051 is compliant with the directives of the Provincial Government. A significant finding from our research is that Halton has a much larger supply of designated greenfield land than does the City of Hamilton. Still, both Hamilton and Halton need to replenish their greenfield lands if they are to accommodate the mix of new housing required under the policies of A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020) to accommodate growth to 2051.
By deliberately understating the need for more lands to accommodate ground-related housing types, both municipalities are exacerbating the affordable housing challenges already faced by residents within the larger Greater Golden Horseshoe. Halton has previously demonstrated its ability to produce more housing than it has in recent times. The Region's share of housing starts in the Toronto census metropolitan area dropped from 12% in 2001-2005 to 9-10% in 2011-2020. The sluggishness in converting designated greenfield lands into serviced sites in Halton appears due to inertia in the planning system, and differences between municipalities and developers on the appropriate housing types, densities and the financial front-ending of major infrastructure.
We know that Halton fails to regularly monitor its supply of short-term land by dwelling type in greenfields and built-up urban areas as required under Policy 1.4.1 b) of the Provincial Policy Statement. Under this policy, municipalities like Halton must maintain at all times an inventory of short-term land with servicing capacity to accommodate a minimum of three years of market-based demand by dwelling type.
