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By Canadian Press

London first to sign housing accelerator deal with Ottawa

Sep 13, 2023 | 1:42 PM

OTTAWA – A southwestern Ontario city is the first to sign a deal for funding from the federal government under its $4-billion housing accelerator fund.

The fund is meant to convince municipalities to eliminate barriers that are limiting housing growth.

London’s mayor was the first to apply for the money, and the city will get $74 million over the next three years to build more than 2,000 homes.

In exchange, it’s eliminating the need for new zoning rules to build high-density housing developments in low-density neighbourhoods.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s challenging other mayors to follow London’s lead and get their applications in quickly

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The announcement comes as the Liberal caucus is meeting in London for a retreat before Parliament resumes sitting next week.

The government is flagging in the polls and Trudeau is facing pressure from inside and outside his caucus to come up with a serious response to the housing shortage.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2023.

The Canadian Press