Tom McLaughlan is vice-president at Thomasfield Homes and past-president of the Guelph & District Home Builders’ Association. He also sits on the Ontario Homebuilders’ Association board.
Local homebuilders need to have a seat at the table as governments move forward with Ottawa’s Housing Accelerator Fund.
The $4-billion fund was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Guelph on March 17. The money is meant to eliminate barriers to create more homes. The federal government wants to fast-track 100,000 homes and double the rate of housing construction over the next 10 years.
As a resident of the City of Guelph and past president of the Guelph & District Home Builders Association, I was disappointed to see there were no local homebuilders invited to be present at the prime minister’s announcement in our own backyard. We were not given a chance to discuss or share our perspectives about the local housing crisis. This lack of representation for a crucial industry in our city is very concerning and raises questions about the intentions of our government’s policies.
Our development and homebuilding industry is vital to leading our community out of a housing crisis. We understand the need for more housing better than anyone and we must be given a seat at the table when addressing this issue. All levels of government have a role to play by facilitating infrastructure investments, including water, wastewater, roads, transit and supportive housing. However, it’s not enough to simply give more money to local municipalities to write more action plans. The root causes of the housing crisis must be addressed, and the homebuilding industry plays a key role in a future solution.
Government officials at all levels must remember the homebuilding industry is one of the last remaining industries in our country that actually builds something on home soil–a durable good. We build long-lasting and efficient homes that remain in high demand. We bring in development charges that pay their own way and significantly increase the city’s tax base, year after year. Unlike other industries, we don’t rely on tax breaks and government handouts. We also represent one of the largest private sector employers in Guelph, creating and sustaining jobs for small businesses and trades. We’re a valuable asset in our communities and should have a say in how our spaces are developed — especially if we are the ones who will be delivering the final product.
The Province of Ontario has a goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031. Here in Guelph, our share of the goal is 18,000 homes. Our industry knows what goes into building these homes, and we need to be given a voice in developing future plans.
We must work collaboratively to tackle the housing crisis. This collaborative work can only be done if homebuilders are engaged in policy decisions. The government must recognize the importance of our industry and work with us to support our growth and success. As members of the Guelph community, we must all advocate for the homebuilding industry to join in important conversations and push for solutions to ensure all residents of our community have access to a safe and affordable place to call home.
Tom McLaughlan
