THUNDER BAY — As the province falls short on its promised affordable housing builds, local MPs say the federal government is trying to work with Ontario to find a solution so agencies like the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board won't lose out on millions of dollars in funding.
Patty Hajdu, member of Parliament for Thunder Bay – Superior North, said the federal government has been leaning on Ontario.
"In order for this funding to be delivered in partnership with Ontario, they actually have to prove that the housing is going to get built," Hajdu said.
Bill Bradica, the CAO of the TBDSSAB, said the agency would lose out on $4.2 million that was slotted for capital repairs, operational funding, and new builds after federal housing minister Sean Fraser announced last week that Ontario will not receive $357 million in funding.
The reason for the lack of funding is because apparently the province has not done enough to meet federal targets under the National Housing Strategy Action Plan.
Hajdu spoke of a revised plan that the minister of housing has been working on with the province.
"We do have a condition that they, by September, demonstrate how they're going to meet their full housing target. I think this is what they're expecting in municipalities, so it's really no different than the kind of pressure provinces are putting on places like Thunder Bay."
Hajdu said if an agreement cannot be reached with Ontario in the coming days, the federal government will look at "alternative ways to make sure that the money gets to where it needs to go."
Thunder Bay – Rainy River member of Parliament Marcus Powlowski said only a small portion of the agreed-upon units have been built since the inception of the National Housing Strategy in 2018.
"So far, six years later . . . they will have built 1,184 units, which is a long way from 20,000 units.
"Furthermore, the federal government has given the province a couple of extensions, and it only asked that the province come up with a plan as to how it's going to get to this number of 20,000, which it agreed upon by the year it's due and they haven't done that.
"Minister Calandra basically seems to say go 'jump in a lake.'"
Powlowski said he inquired with the ministry of housing and was told that it didn't look good.
"There is no scenario under which the federal government intends to change its decision to invest these funds in affordable housing in Ontario."
The MP did express sympathy that the TBDSSAB was caught in the crossfire.
"The federal government is acting in the best interests of the people of Canada and the people of Thunder Bay by kind of insisting that the province do what it claims it's going to do.
"But if the provinces aren't going to play ball up there, it sounds like there's a willingness to interact directly with the municipalities or the TBDSSAB."
MPP Kevin Holland was asked for comment, but one was not provided at the time of publishing.
