By CHAT News Today

Report due by Sept. 30

Provincial panel will look at new vision affordable housing

Jul 10, 2020 | 10:44 AM

The Government of Alberta has formed an independent panel to review affordable housing in the province.

Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon has appointed 10 experts to the panel, which will be led by Calgary-Cross MLA Mickey Amery.

The panel will provide recommendations to transform affordable housing, identifying ways to make the affordable housing system better serve Albertans in need as well as make more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

“Our government knows Alberta’s affordable housing system must be financially sustainable and able to address growing demand. This review is the foundational piece of our housing transformation work,” said Pon. “I thank the panel members for agreeing to spend their valuable time and effort to make housing more affordable and accessible. Their recommendations will help inform a new vision for affordable housing in Alberta.”

Panel members bring a diverse range of expertise and backgrounds as housing providers, developers and civil society organizations to identify innovative solutions for Albertans in need of housing. The panel will also receive submissions on populations most in need of affordable housing.

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Specifically, the panel will consider:

• The role the Government of Alberta plays in providing affordable housing.
• Simplifying or easing regulatory structures that create costs and red tape for housing providers.
• Gaps in the current affordable housing system.
• Innovative approaches that will enable government and its partners to meet increasing demand for affordable housing.

The Affordable Housing Review Panel members are:

• Mickey Amery, chair – MLA for Calgary-Cross
• Paul Boskovich – president, Genstar Development Company
• Lauren Ingalls – chief administrative officer, Westwinds Communities
• Jeffrey Johnson – consultant and former Alberta MLA and cabinet minister
• Sam Kolias – co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer, Boardwalk REIT
• Javaid (Jerry) Naqvi – chairman and founder, Cameron Development Corporation
• Marcia Nelson – executive fellow, University of Calgary
• Raymond Swonek – chief executive officer, Greater Edmonton Foundation Seniors Housing
• Dr. Sasha Tsenkova – professor, University of Calgary
• Rachelle Venne – chief executive officer, Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women

The panel’s final report will be submitted by Sept. 30.