Advocating for a Strong Halton

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has estimated that 5.8 million new homes would be required across the country by 2030 to restore affordability for Canadians.

In Halton, our Local Municipalities have endorsed housing targets totaling 92,500 units to support the delivery of 1.5 million new homes across Ontario by 2031. To support the Local Municipalities in achieving their targets, Halton Region is proactively planning for, financing, and delivering the more than $5.2 billion of water, wastewater and roads infrastructure that is needed to support the acceleration of growth to build these homes.

Our collective and continued success is dependent on the expansion of infrastructure funding programs and strong partnerships with the development community and the Provincial and Federal Governments. Infrastructure funding programs such as the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) are welcomed tools to support municipalities in the delivery of critical housing-enabling infrastructure. However, municipal eligibility requirements for CHIF funding pose challenges for many municipalities.

The Federal Government can support the continued successful delivery of critical housing-enabling infrastructure in Halton by:

• Working together with the Provincial Government to expand infrastructure funding programs such as the CHIF and reviewing eligibility requirements for Regional Governments.
• Working with the Region and Provincial Government to explore alternative sources of funding to deliver new water, wastewater and road infrastructure and support the necessary maintenance and repair of existing assets to support growth in Halton.
• Taking action with FCM to develop a New Municipal Growth Framework to ensure municipalities can continue to deliver critical housing-enabling infrastructure and address priority community needs.

Advocacy document: Delivering infrastructure to support housing (PDF file)

High market rental costs and the growing mental health and addictions crisis are significantly increasing the demand for homelessness services and supports, including emergency shelter. Municipal governments, including Halton, are often the first point of contact for people facing struggles with mental health and addictions, many of whom require intensive supports, and experience challenges with securing and maintaining stable housing.

The demand for homelessness supports and service across Halton continues to exceed available supply. The Region’s emergency shelter system is currently operating at 140% capacity, and there is a significant demand for assisted housing for individuals and families unable to afford market rent. All 5,404 existing assisted housing units in the Region are fully occupied, and 8,048 households are on the wait list. At the current rate, only 9% of Halton’s existing waitlist will be housed each year.

This data points to a clear call for increased, long-term and predictable funding from the Federal Government to meet demand and make long-term strategic investments in homelessness prevention and supportive housing.

The Region currently has 548 shovel-ready assisted and supportive housing units (PDF file) in its portfolio of housing development opportunities. This means they are fully zoned and serviced, and ready for Federal and Provincial investment to get construction started. These new units are critical in preventing higher emergency shelter use, street homelessness and encampments.

The Federal Government can support Halton in providing housing for those with the greatest need by:

• Partnering with Halton Region by investing in our shovel-ready assisted and supportive housing properties. This will get them built as fast as possible to meet increasing demand.
• Providing increased, long-term and predictable capital and operating funding to support the Region in providing housing and supports for individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Increasing coordination across all three levels of government to address the homelessness, mental health and addictions crises.

Advocacy document: Providing housing for those with the greatest need (PDF file)

Halton Region has been preparing for the implementation of tariffs and trade disruption imposed by the United States. Tariffs and any Canadian counter-tariff measures will have significant local, regional, and national economic impacts.

Halton supports a coordinated response to U.S. tariffs across all levels of government. On February 19, 2025, Halton Regional Council endorsed a resolution outlining that the Region stands together with our Federal and Provincial partners and supports the measures put in place to respond to the threat of U.S. tariffs. Municipalities are on the front lines of communities and Halton’s resolution underscored that municipalities must play a crucial role on Team Canada to protect Canadian and local economies.

As Halton is proactively responding to the threat of U.S. tariffs, the Region is working to plan and mitigate against potential impacts. The implementation of tariffs is anticipated to lead to economic instability and increased costs for essential goods and services. Tariff impacts may also potentially include negative impacts on the implementation of essential infrastructure projects through cost increases or supply chain issues for key products such as steel.

During this time of economic uncertainty and evolving U.S. trade policy, it is critical that the Federal and Provincial Governments help stimulate and stabilize Canadian and local economies. This must include increasing funding for infrastructure and housing, working to remove trade barriers between provinces, as well as removing any barriers that prevent municipalities in selecting Canadian companies.

The Federal Government can support Halton Region in responding to the impacts of U.S. trade tariffs by:

• Ensuring municipalities are part of the coordinated Team Canada approach to leverage local expertise and ensure the economic and local impacts of communities are protected.
• Removing any barriers to municipalities preferring Canadian companies for capital projects and goods and services, including taking action to remove trade barriers between provinces.
• Ensuring municipalities remain “whole” to respond to existing priority community issues and the local impacts of U.S. tariffs and Canadian countermeasures.
• Increasing investments for infrastructure and housing to stimulate and stabilize Canadian and local economies.

The Region, its residents and businesses continue to be impacted by severe weather events such as floods, high winds, tornadoes, ice storms and extreme heat and cold days. These events pose serious risks to the Region’s infrastructure including watermains and wastewater pumping stations and threaten the health, safety and quality of life of residents.

In July 2024, Halton Region experienced five consecutive intense rainfall events, resulting in 100 to 220 mm of total rainfall in isolated areas throughout the region contributing to 1,897 basement flooding incidents. Of the reported flooding, roughly 54 per cent were related to the stormwater-induced wastewater system surcharges, with the remainder being directly flooded by stormwater.

As outlined by FCM (external link), municipalities build and maintain 60% of the core public infrastructure that supports communities including water, wastewater and roads. Long- term predictable sources of funding are required from the Provincial and Federal Governments to invest in climate action, including aging infrastructure and adaptation measures for communities.

The Federal Government can help address climate change and support a resilient Halton community by:

• Providing long-term, sustainable funding for municipal climate adaptation efforts to support resilient communities.
• Expanding federal funding programs such as the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

Advocacy document: Addressing climate change and supporting resilient communities (PDF file)

Halton Region is committed to working with the Provincial Government to build more homes faster. Our Local Municipalities have endorsed housing pledges totaling 92,500 units in support of the Province’s goal to build 1.5 million homes by 2031. To support them in achieving their housing targets, Halton Region is proactively planning for, financing, and delivering the more than $5.2 billion of water, wastewater and roads infrastructure needed to accelerate growth and increase housing supply.

The Region’s continued success in delivering the critical infrastructure needed to support housing is dependent on partnerships with the development community and the Provincial and Federal Governments. This includes the expansion of funding programs that support the delivery of municipal infrastructure projects, such as the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF), and the exploration of alternative sources of funding in addition to the collection of development charges.

The Provincial Government can support the continued successful delivery of critical housing-enabling infrastructure in Halton by: 

Working with the Region to explore additional and alternative sources of funding to deliver the significant new water, wastewater and road infrastructure necessary to support accelerated growth in Halton Region. This includes expanding infrastructure funding programs for net-new infrastructure and the maintenance and repair of existing stock that services current development and will support intensification. 

Provincial Government: Delivering infrastructure to support housing (PDF file)

High market rental costs, static social assistance programs and the growing mental health and addictions crisis are increasing the demand for homelessness services and supports across Halton. Municipal governments, including Halton Region, are often the first point of contact for people facing struggles with mental health and addictions, many of whom require intensive supports and experience challenges with securing and maintaining stable housing.

There is also significant demand for dedicated supportive and assisted housing across Halton for individuals and families unable to afford market rent. All 5,404 existing assisted housing units in the Region are fully occupied, with 8,048 households on the wait list. At current rates, only 9% of Halton’s existing waitlist will be housed each year. Unmet demand in the community continues to put increased pressure on the Region’s emergency shelter system.

New research from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), in partnership with the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA) and the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA) (PDF file) has found that more than 80,000 Ontarians experienced homelessness in 2024, a number that has grown by more than 25% since 2022. In Halton, there has been a 185% increase in unsheltered homelessness since 2018 and the Region’s emergency shelter system is currently operating at 140% capacity.

Halton Region has identified 548 shovel-ready assisted and supportive housing units, contingent on Provincial and Federal funding opportunities to begin construction. Halton Region’s Portfolio of housing opportunities (PDF file) provides an overview of Halton’s shovel-ready and in progress projects. These new units are critical in preventing higher emergency shelter use, street homelessness and encampments.

The Provincial government can support Halton in providing housing for those with the greatest need by:

• Partnering with Halton Region to get shovel-ready assisted and supportive housing properties built as fast as possible to meet increasing demand.
• Increasing the Homelessness Prevention Program as a source of long-term, sustainable funding to support the Region in providing housing and supports for individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and to mitigate street homelessness and encampments in Halton. 
• Increasing coordination across all three levels of government to address the homelessness, mental health and addictions crisis. 

Provincial Government: Providing housing for those with the greatest need (PDF file)

As the Service System Manager for early years and child care, Halton Region is responsible for planning, administering and funding early years and licensed child care programs.

The new Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) funding model came into effect on January 1, 2025. Under the new CWELCC model, Halton has received a funding increase which will reduce child care fees to a maximum of $22 per day for families; many of whom who are struggling with high mortgage rates or rental costs and other rising household expenses.

As one of the fastest growing communities in the country, Halton Region is facing significant demand for these high quality and affordable child care spaces. Demand from Halton families and child care operators is expected to continue as the community grows.

The Region’s increased CWELCC funding for 2025 is a welcomed investment, however, as a result of Provincial guidelines, this funding cannot be used to increase the number of affordable child care spaces to meet increasing demand, even though many child care operators across the Region are ready to do so. For Halton to expand CWELCC spaces to respond to community need and prevent long wait-times for affordable child care additional Provincial funding is required.

The Provincial Government can support Halton in delivering high quality and affordable child care by: 

• Providing Halton Region with additional community-based spaces and associated funding for CWELCC expansion.
• Providing increased administrative funding to enable Halton Region to allocate more resources to support oversight and auditing of the CWELCC program under the new funding model. 

Provincial Government: Expanding child care spaces to meet demand (PDF file)