'Our voices don't matter': Leaders of small urban communities shut out of provincial housing crisis summit

Mayors of Aurora, Newmarket, Georgina, Bradford, Stouffville among those excluded from virtual meeting

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 20, 2022
Lisa Queen

Premier Doug Ford’s housing summit Jan. 19 is excluding leaders of small urban municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, who are key players in addressing the crisis, Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas said.

He is chair of the Small Urban GTHA Mayors, which also includes the mayors of Newmarket, Georgina, East Gwillimbury, King Township, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Bradford West Gwillimbury and other small urban communities in the sprawling area.

The mayors are upset about not being included in the virtual summit, Mrakas said.

“This despite the explosion of growth in smaller urban communities in the GTHA, despite the desperate need for attainable housing in our communities, it seems our voices don’t matter,” he said.

“I would think it would be obvious by now that what works for large urban centres, such as Toronto or Brampton, may not necessarily work for our local communities.”

Attempts to generate a one-size-fits-all approach is not the solution to the housing crisis, Mrakas said.

“If we are to find workable solutions, we need to work together to create a tool box of options that municipalities large and small can use to address the needs of their specific communities. That cannot be achieved by limiting participation to big city mayors,” he said.

“I call on the provincial government to include representatives from a broad range of municipalities across the province. Our voices matter. Our experiences matter. Let us be heard and let’s work together to find solutions to the crisis in attainable housing that works for all of us.”

Ford kicked off the summit by saying the province will provide more than $45 million to Ontario’s largest municipalities to cut red tape and speed up new housing development approvals.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark called housing affordability a critical priority for the Ontario government.