Featured news & resources
See featured resources, news, events and training related to Housing.This news release and backgrounder are released in an active effort to build some momentum around the upcoming Sustainable Communities Conference (Feb 7 – 10) and to promote registration by giving a glimpse into some of there interesting local, sustainability projects the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund has funded and that stand out.
FCM President, Taneen Rudyk, issued the following statement at the conclusion of the FCM Board of Directors meetings and Advocacy Days discussions in Ottawa, ON.
Big City Mayors’ Caucus chair and Mayor of Halifax Mike Savage issued this statement following the convening of the caucus in Ottawa.
FCM and the Government of Canada announce a $11.1-million investment through the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) initiative to help implement a home energy retrofit financing program in the City of Saskatoon.
FCM and the Government of Canada announce a $25.6 million investment in four Alberta municipalities, delivered through GMF’s Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) initiative.
FCM President, Taneen Rudyk, issued the following statement at the conclusion of the FCM Board of Directors meetings in Strathcona County, Alberta.

The City of Calgary is investing $100 million in the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program, which focuses on supporting downtown building owners in the conversion of vacant office space to residential use and the development of vibrant downtown neighbourhoods. The City has approved five projects for funding, which together remove about 665,000 square feet of empty office space from the market and create 707 homes.

To deal with the housing crisis and a low vacancy rate, the City of Gatineau has established a “shock committee” designed to unblock housing projects by taking a several-pronged approach to develop housing as efficiently as possible. The committee is made up of housing leaders throughout the city and will act on four priority areas: affordability, accessibility, equity and efficiency. (**French only)

The Rural Ontario Institute, Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, and IT Firm Itergy are partnering to create an innovative digital tool that will aggregate trends, costs, available land, available incentives, local organizations open to collaboration and more to provide municipalities with the information they need to create in the planning and construction of new affordable housing. The tool is expected to launch in the spring of 2023.

Over 900 new affordable rental homes have been approved by Toronto City Council through the Open Door Affordable Rental Housing Program. Since launching in 2016, the Open Door program has supported the creation of more than 21,700 affordable rental homes in Toronto. The program accelerates the construction of affordable housing by providing City financial contributions, including capital funding fees and property tax relief, fast-tracking planning approvals, and activating surplus public land.
