Big city mayors press Liberals to speed up flow of affordable housing money
OTTAWA — The mayors of Canada’s biggest cities say they don’t need the federal government to pony up more money for affordable housing units — they just need the cash to move faster.
The Liberals’ housing plan unveiled last year outlines billions in federal cash and matching funds from the provinces and territories, but much of the money will take years to flow.
Included in the plan was cash to build 100,000 new affordable housing units and repair 240,000 more.
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, who chairs the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ big-city mayors caucus, said the mayors pressed Finance Minister Bill Morneau on Thursday to loosen the federal purse strings so the repair money is spent in the coming fiscal year while details are worked out on cash for new construction.