Toronto’s new policy to introduce more affordable housing met with mixed reaction

``This was a really big step forward ... but at the same time, I can't help but think we lost a bit of an opportunity,'' Coun. Mike Layton said.

A new Toronto policy to introduce more affordable housing is drawing mixed reaction, with critics saying it isn’t bold enough to tackle the city’s housing crisis and developers arguing it could be a disincentive for new projects.

The majority of Toronto city council voted Tuesday in favour of a policy framework that will make it mandatory for certain new developments near major transit stations to include affordable rental and ownership housing units beginning in 2022.

To start, the proposed inclusionary zoning policy will require developers to set aside five to 10 per cent of a new condo development that has at least 100 units for affordable housing. That requirement will increase gradually to eight to 22 per cent by 2030.

ACORN, a national organization advocating for low- and middle-income residents, said it saw the framework as somewhat of a win but called it “very timid.”

Alejandra Ruiz Vargas, chair of ACORN’s East York chapter in Toronto, said it falls short of what a city feasibility study found was possible _ that condo projects in stronger market areas could be required to set aside at least 20 per cent for affordable housing.

“Even though we had some wins … this was a great opportunity to create more affordable housing,” she said.

Coun. Mike Layton, who advocated for a higher rate of affordable housing to be set aside and a full implementation of the policy by 2026, said he had “mixed emotions” about the framework that was approved.

“This was a really big step forward … but at the same time, I can’t help but think we lost a bit of an opportunity,” he said.