Home News Local News Town receives $5.8 million from Federal Housing Accelerator Fund

Town receives $5.8 million from Federal Housing Accelerator Fund

March 9, 2025

By Mike Anderson

If you don’t succeed the first time, try, try, again.

After losing out in 2023, the Town of Georgina will receive $5.8 million, spread over the next four years, from the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund’s (HAF) second round of funding.

Launched in 2023, HAF is a $4.4 billion federal funding program designed to increase housing supply across Canada by 750,000 homes over ten years.

The first round of funding totalled $4 billion, and 2024’s Federal Budget added $400 million for municipalities not approved in the first round.

On March 3, Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen joined Mayor Margaret Quirk at the Civic Centre for the $5.8 million funding announcement.

“The funding that we’re announcing is building on a simple idea. And that is helping municipalities so that, in turn, we can overcome the housing crisis. Specifically, it’s about coming together as a society to build homes faster,” MP Van Bynen said.

“Georgina will receive over $5.8 million in incentive payments through HAF to deliver significant, lasting changes to the way that housing is permitted in your great community. Changes that will tear down the barriers and the stumbling blocks that have slowed housing down.”

“The Town of Georgina has been awarded 5.8 million in federal funding to advance the construction of an additional 200 homes in the next three years, including 50 affordable housing units. Building a thriving community starts with affordable housing, where growth is balanced with inclusivity, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to live in a healthy, connected community,” Mayor Margaret Quirk added.

Van Bynen said the Town was successful this time, in part, because it committed to allowing four units per residential lot “as-of-right” to support infill development in low-density neighbourhoods.

According to the CMHC website, “as-of-right” zoning, also known as pre-zoning, shortens approval timelines by removing the need for rezoning applications.

Still, Mayor Quirk said residents shouldn’t expect to see a flood of fourplexes.

“Not every lot is able to sustain four units. Not every lot would be big enough for that,” Mayor Quirk said.

While welcoming the funding, she also stressed that it will be up to builders to take advantage of zoning changes and incentives.

The funding from the federal government is key but we need the development industry to step it up as well,” she said.

Mayor Quirk pointed out that at least one builder, Treasure Hill, has expressed an interest in providing buyers the option of putting in an accessory dwelling unit, which they could rent out or provide for aging parents.

The Town will implement eight initiatives to increase housing, including a process to fast-track development and building permit reviews for affordable housing and purpose-built rental housing developments.

“The Town put forward a housing action plan back in the fall, and we were selected based on the ambition of that plan. One of these initiatives includes launching an incentive program to encourage the construction of accessory dwelling units. In other words, secondary suites, basement apartments on existing properties to unlock more rental units in the Town,” Mayor Quirk said.

“We’ll be posting a comprehensive housing action plan on our website in the next few months with details of the eight initiatives, and we expect to update the public in late fall of this year as progress is made against those initiatives.”

Still, it’s not clear whether the federal funding will survive a change in government, as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to end HAF.

“We hope that any future changes in the federal government policies will not jeopardize this important funding,” Mayor Quirk said.

“The agreement is an agreement between Georgina and the federal government. It’s not between Georgina or any party. So the federal government is committed to seeing this through,” Van Bynen added.