加拿大联邦和安大略省合作减少开发费

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have announced a new federal-provincial housing partnership with development charge reductions and HST cuts at its core — a move the governments say will help lower the cost of a new Ontario home by up to $200,000. At the centre of the agreement is a joint $8.8 billion commitment over 10 years, with the federal government and Ontario cost-matching funding for housing-enabling infrastructure. That investment is designed to support reductions to municipal development charges of up to 50%, with the reductions set to remain in place for three years. The targeted municipalities collectively cover approximately 80% of Ontario's population. Municipalities will also be expected to contribute to the reductions, with the province working alongside them to identify and advance infrastructure projects. Development charges — the fees levied on developers to fund infrastructure such as water mains, roads, parks, and community facilities — have grown at what the federal government characterizes as an unsustainable rate in recent decades, increasing the cost of new homes, compressing developer margins, and stalling new builds. The federal government describes the arrangement as the first partnership under its newly established Build Communities Strong Fund. "Today's agreement will be transformational for Ontario and Canada, delivering new homes, transit and infrastructure, and supporting hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for Ontario workers," said Premier Ford. "Our government will continue to deliver on our plan to protect Ontario in partnership with the federal government and municipalities by lowering the cost of building, getting shovels in the ground faster, cutting red tape, and investing in workers." The partnership also formalizes the HST relief announced last week, under which the full 13% HST is removed on new Ontario homes valued up to $1 million, representing a maximum saving of $130,000. That rebate is m…