The fund will be put towards fast-tracking more than 5,200 new housing units over the next three years
Prime minister Justin Trudeau has announced the newest efforts made by the federal government in order to fast track the construction of housing units in Edmonton.
About $175 million worth of funds will be put towards fast tracking more than 5,200 new housing units in Edmonton over the next three years. The money will flow through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund and will be utilized for the sake of removing the factors that hinder housing construction.
Trudeau said the government will be changing how housing units are constructed in the country as the funds will be used to create more housing options in the city. This will include the creation of more rentals, affordable apartments, and housing near university and college campuses.
“One of the challenges we’re facing right now with this housing crisis is over the past decades the federal governments of different stripes stepped back from the business of ensuring that housing was properly built right across the country in affordable ways, meeting the supply needs, meeting the growth of the country,” he said.
The prime minister spoke with tradespeople as he toured a project in Edmonton that is set to provide about 335 housing units by the time summer comes around. About only 60% of the housing units were considered to be affordable.
David Mitton, president of Leston Holdings, the builder of the project, told Trudeau that the city’s wood framing technology has helped in speeding up construction and that cellphone apps as well as other technological tools allowed for faster and efficient communication among workers.
“This city council has been committed to ensuring that everyone living in this city has a decent place to call home. We’re very appreciative of how federal investments have been able to build more supportive housing,” said Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
“Our city has been leading the charge in removing barriers to housing by overhauling the zoning regulations, making it easier for people to build.”
