THUNDER BAY -- A lack of housing is the root cause of many problems in the province, including in Northwestern Ontario.
With nearly 13 per cent of people in the province under-housed or paying too much, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin said it's something that needs to be addressed.
He wants to see an approach that spans ministries and all walks of life from the homeless to the homebuilders to find solutions.
"What we basically want to do is find the things that work and ensure that we replicate them and discover the things that aren't working and end it so we can have more progress," he said Friday afternoon as the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Regional conference helds its last day at the Valhalla Inn.
NOMA president David Canfield said affordable housing is critical in the Northwest especially as communities come out of the recession.
"Affordable housing is extremely important," he said.
Canfield is encouraged by the recent announcement to include wood in buildings up to six storeys. While that could help the region economically, it's also good news for affordable housing everywhere in the province.
But affordable housing can't be built by municipalities alone.
"We can't afford this," Canfield said.
It will take the province, along with the federal government to make it happen.
"If we work together we can get some success stories," he said.
