NDP pledges to pay a third of Toronto’s community housing repair bill

Ontario New Democrats only provincial party so far to commit to help pay Toronto's social housing repair costs.

Thestar.com
May 8, 2017
By Betsy Powell

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has affirmed her party’s commitment to pay a third of Toronto’s social housing repair costs if the New Democrats form the next provincial government.

“If the NDP is elected in 2018, New Democrats will meet the province’s responsibility to repair social housing and shelters across Ontario,” Horwath said Monday after touring a Bleecker St. apartment with Mayor John Tory and Councillor Pam McConnell.

The state of Toronto Community Housing Corp.’s aging stock has reached a “crisis level,” Horwath said, noting thousands of units could be closed over the next few years unless the repair needs are met.

Since last month’s provincial budget failed to include any new money for social housing repairs, Tory has been on a crusade to compel the sitting Liberals to pay $864 million of Toronto Community Housing’s $2.6 billion capital backlog.

His appeal has so far failed to gain traction with Premier Kathleen Wynne, who insists her government has made substantial investments in social housing.

Last week, Conservative Leader Patrick Brown visited city hall to discuss Toronto’s funding needs, but made no big-dollar commitments on social housing.

On Monday, Tory thanked Horwath for stepping up and said he will use it to try to leverage similar promises from the other leaders. He added municipal officials continue to hold discussions with the federal government on when its one-third share will begin flowing to the city.

The provincial leader who comes through with the money will receive “prominent attention” for the contribution at “each and every project” that benefits from investment, Tory said.

While the mayor has repeatedly said he would not endorse any leader or candidate in the June 2018 provincial election, Tory said he will “make sure the people of Toronto know,” the positions the parties have taken.

Horwath was asked at a news conference whether her pledge made sense when Toronto city council refuses to raise property taxes above the rate of inflation.

She didn’t respond directly to the question, but said “the other orders of government have a responsibility to ensure that the social housing stock is able to be maintained.”

Property taxes were never intended to fund the $2.6 billion repair backlog, Tory said jumping in.

“This amounts to a social program and social programs are not meant to be paid for in their entirety or in large measure by property taxes,” Tory said. “Property taxes are meant to pay for basic services to people and they do.”

Toronto has paid its share using city-derived funds from various sources, including property tax revenue and Toronto Community Housing mortgage refinancing, he said.

Tory added the province has left the city “holding the bag” for the repairs after cancelling council’s desire to toll the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway, a decision he called “politically motivated.”