How most major Canadian cities being reshaped through zoning amendments

[Brandon P.]

The federal government in Canada has rolled out a program called the Housing Accelerator Fund to most larger cities across the country. While the fund was announced in 2021, the first city to be approved for funding was London, Ontario in September 2023. Over the past two months, many other cities have been approved for funding, primarily in Ontario.

The program provides cities with millions of dollars in funding in exchange for zoning bylaw amendments. The intent of the bylaw amendments is to increase density in existing neighborhoods and reduce red tape for developers. For the cities that have implemented the amendments, this has resulted in changes where neighborhoods that were only zoned for single-family homes can now have fourplexes or townhomes built, and it is significantly reducing red tape around the parameters of where larger multi-family buildings can be developed.

While the changes will provide ample opportunities for developers, existing residents in the neighborhoods may bear the burden of the ongoing construction and increasing population once the units are built and rented out. Apartments will be built on greenspace that was recently undevelopable, and older homes will be demolished and replaced by fourplexes and townhomes.

The Housing Accelerator Fund is a promising initiative that aims to increase housing supply for investors. It will absolutely re-shape most major Canadian cities and will permanently alter the neighborhoods that have been untouched for decades.

Regina City Council Bylaw Amendments