National

Housing minister won't commit to Liberal election promise to cut development fees

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Oct, 2025 10:50 AM

The federal housing minister wouldn't commit today to a Liberal election campaign promise to push cities to cut the fees that help fund local infrastructure.

In Toronto today for an announcement, Housing Minister Gregor Robertson did not answer directly when asked whether the Liberals are still committed to their promise to cut municipal development charges in half to lower the cost of homebuilding.

Speaking to reporters, Robertson said Ottawa "initially" was looking at a 50 per cent reduction in development charges, but was not clear on whether the government would meet that bar and suggested more details are coming in advance of the Nov. 4 budget.

Robertson said infrastructure accounts for a large part of the cost of building new homes, and development charges are key to covering those housing costs in cities like Toronto and Vancouver.

The minister was in Toronto to announce federal funding for the city's sewer infrastructure and the first housing project to go forward through the federal government's new affordable housing agency, Build Canada Homes.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said financing is a major hurdle keeping many builders from breaking ground on new homes, and that's why the city is talking with Ottawa about adjusting development charges.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada, Germany working on diversifying trade in face of U.S. threats

Canadian companies and diplomats are working with their European colleagues to find ways to diversify trade as the U.S. threatens to impose steep tariffs. Germany's Ambassador to Canada Tjorven Bellmann says European ambassadors in Ottawa have been in touch with corporations on both sides of the Atlantic to discuss how they can boost trade.

Canada, Germany working on diversifying trade in face of U.S. threats

Supreme Court of Canada moving away from social media platform X

The Supreme Court of Canada says it's moving away from the social media platform X. In an apparent farewell post to its more than 45,000 subscribers, the top court says it will focus its communication efforts on other platforms.

Supreme Court of Canada moving away from social media platform X

The Tories say Carney is being 'sneaky' about his assets. What do the rules say?

In a series of press conferences in recent weeks, the federal Conservatives have demanded that Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney comply with the conflict of interest rules that apply to members of Parliament and cabinet ministers. Carney, who is neither an MP nor a member of cabinet, has said he will comply with the rules when they apply to him.

The Tories say Carney is being 'sneaky' about his assets. What do the rules say?

Liberals advance voting begins, Mark Carney still frontrunner

With the debates now done, Liberal party members can start casting advance ballots today to select their next leader a little under two weeks from now. They can cast their ranked ballot choices by mail or in some instances by phone, and each electoral district counts for 100 points in the race.

Liberals advance voting begins, Mark Carney still frontrunner

Media, telecom firms ask CRTC to ease up on regulation as they compete with streaming

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is holding consultations on how the Canadian broadcasting system can survive the shift away from traditional TV to international streamers. It’s a part of the regulator’s work on implementing the Online Streaming Act, which updated broadcasting laws to capture online platforms.

Media, telecom firms ask CRTC to ease up on regulation as they compete with streaming

White House says tariffs moving forward but there's still room for negotiation

Trump's executive order to implement 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports, with a lower 10 per cent levy on energy, was delayed until March 4 after Canada agreed to introduce new security measures at the border. The president said the pause would allow time to reach a "final economic deal."