The Federal Government has pledged $6 billion in federal funding to address Canada’s housing crisis; however, to access the funds, provinces and territories must meet specific conditions[1][3]. One of these conditions includes allowing fourplexes to be built “as of right,” but Ontario Premier Doug Ford has rejected this idea[1].

Key Points:

• Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund The federal government is creating a $6 billion fund to construct and upgrade water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure[1]. $1 billion will go directly to municipalities for urgent infrastructure needs[1][3]. The remaining $5 billion would be allocated through agreements with provinces and territories to support long-term priorities[3].
• Conditions Provinces must allow the development of four-unit residential dwellings to access the funding[5].
• Ontario’s Stance Premier Doug Ford has refused to force municipalities to allow fourplexes on residential land[5]. He believes municipalities should determine what is good for their communities[5]. The Ford government appears to be casting aside the federal government’s latest housing plan, which would require provincial buy-in on fourplexes in order to receiving funding from Ottawa in 2025[7].
• Federal Perspective The federal government is attaching strings to the money to incentivize changes needed to solve the national housing crisis[1]. Housing Minister Sean Fraser stated that the funding aims to “actually solve the national housing crisis, not just play at the margins”[7].
• Additional Measures The federal government is also increasing its housing accelerator fund by $400 million over three years, which is expected to help build an additional 12,000 homes[1][3].
• Criticism Conservative housing critic Scott Aitchison has dismissed the announcement as a " $4 billion dollar photo op fund"[1].

Citations: [1] Federal government pledges $6B for housing in new infrastructure … https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-budget-housing-1.7161005 [2] Ford threatens to cut off Ontario’s energy supply to U.S. if Trump … https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-ontario-premiers-meet-justin-trudeau-1.7407948 [3] Ottawa to launch $6B infrastructure fund to help build homes https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2024/04/02/ottawa-to-launch-6b-infrastructure-fund-to-help-build-homes-with-strings-attached/ [4] Provinces reject $6-billion housing program announced by Trudeau … https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadaPolitics/comments/1bumooo/provinces_reject_6billion_housing_program/ [5] Ford doubles down on refusal to allow fourplexes provincewide - CBC https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-fourplexes-infrastructure-funding-1.7162251 [6] Don’t be fooled: It was Doug Ford… - Meanwhile in Canada | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MeanwhileinCanada1/posts/dont-be-fooled-it-was-doug-ford-who-gave-musk-the-hugely-over-priced-starlink-co/1022779166544123/ [7] Ford government could reject latest federal housing package https://globalnews.ca/news/10398150/federal-housing-fund-ontario-response/ [8] Ontario not budging on fourplexes despite federal funding on the line https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/ontario-not-budging-on-fourplexes-despite-federal-funding-on-the-line/ [9] Why Ottawa’s $6B housing infrastructure fund has some provinces … https://financialpost.com/real-estate/ottawa-6-billion-infrastructure-fund-provinces-fuming