The Government of Canada and the City of Hamilton announced today that they have reached an agreement to accelerate the construction of 2,600 housing units over the next three years, contributing to the stimulation of building more than 9,000 homes over the next decade.

The agreement will provide, under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), more than $93.5 million to work on reducing barriers to building the housing we need more quickly, and will allow for high-density development near rapid transit, including Hamilton's future light rail transit stations and making city-owned land and brownfield sites available for development.

Hamilton has also committed to expanding zoning permissions for residential housing, including amending zoning laws to allow for the construction of four-unit housing on a single lot. These initiatives will significantly improve access to housing in Hamilton.

The Housing Accelerator Fund also helps cut red tape and track at least 100,000 new homes for people in cities and towns and Indigenous communities across Canada. Concerning innovative action plans from local governments, once approved, upfront funding is provided to ensure new homes are built in a timely manner, along with additional funds upon achieving results. Local governments are encouraged to think outside the box and be bold in their approaches, which can include accelerating project timelines, allowing for increased housing density, and affordable housing units.

The Canadian government is seeking to provide affordable homes for Canadians, and housing support is the key to our work, so it will continue to work with provincial and municipal governments, as well as Indigenous partners, to keep building more homes for Canadians, quickly.

Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, commented on the agreement saying, "Today's announcement will help accelerate the construction of more than 2,600 units permitted in the next three years and 9,000 units over the next decade. He added that, by working with cities, mayors, and all levels of government, we are helping to build more homes for Canadians at prices they can afford."

Philomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas, confirmed that "building more housing units will open up many new opportunities for growth in our ambitious city. Safe and affordable housing is an impetus that supports Canadians in achieving other goals, from raising healthy children to pursuing education, jobs, and opportunities. We are working every day to invest in people so they can reach their potential and turn possibilities into realities."

Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth and Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain, said, "Safe and reliable housing is a human right, and that's why we've worked alongside the City of Hamilton to build homes for families, help seniors who are being displaced, and provide shelter for women and their children. We remain focused on speeding up the creation of an additional 100,000 homes across the country, and I look forward to seeing more cities and towns join us in this effort."

Chad Collins, Member of Parliament for Hamilton East – Stoney Creek, stated, "The Housing Accelerator Fund will assist local governments in making lasting changes to our housing system so we can improve and increase the housing supply for years to come. Through innovation and partnerships with local governments, we can build the homes we need in our cities and towns, creating affordable, inclusive, and diverse communities. We will continue to work to make life affordable and build stronger, more prosperous communities from coast to coast."

Andrea Horwath, Mayor of the City of Hamilton, expressed hope that Hamilton would become a great place to live for people of all ages and income levels, noting the need to provide a range of new housing options and introduce innovative new methods for creating and maintaining housing, in order to keep our city affordable. She emphasized that the federal government is a key partner for the City of Hamilton in this work, and thanked them for today’s investment of $93.5 million through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

Today’s announcement was made by Philomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas, on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, along with Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth and Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain, Chad Collins, Member of Parliament for Hamilton East – Stoney Creek, and Andrea Horwath, Mayor of the City of Hamilton.