TRREB is calling on key municipal and regional governments across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Simcoe County to apply for the Canada–Ontario Development Charges Reduction Program (DCRP) before the application deadline. Development charges can amount to up to 20 per cent of a home’s purchase price.

The program gives municipalities a significant opportunity to reduce development charges on eligible housing projects while accessing provincial and federal funding to help offset the associated budgetary impact. By participating, municipalities can help lower one of the major costs that increases housing prices while continuing to invest in the infrastructure needed to support growing communities.

Over the past decade, development charges (DCs), taxes, fees, and other government-imposed costs have increased substantially. Reducing these costs can improve project feasibility, encourage new housing construction, and support the delivery of much-needed housing supply. The DCRP recognizes that communities need both housing and the infrastructure that supports it, including roads, transit, water, wastewater, and other essential infrastructure.

In our letters to municipal leaders, TRREB urged local and regional governments to give prompt consideration to applying for the program and to take advantage of this opportunity to support residents, homebuyers, renters, and the broader housing market.

TRREB made submissions to Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Markham, Newmarket, Aurora, Barrie, Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Simcoe County, and the Regions of York, Peel, Halton and Durham.

TRREB will continue to work with municipal, regional, provincial, and federal partners on policies that increase housing supply, improve affordability, and help build complete, sustainable communities across the GTA, Simcoe County, and beyond.

Read the official news release here for more information about the Development Charge Reduction Program.