What a fiscal watchdog cooks up for Christmas
And a parting shot on housing
ABOVE THE FOLD
HOT HOUSING — Fresh off a new funding deal with the province, Toronto Mayor OLIVIA CHOW has notched another political victory on her belt: $471 million to spur 12,000 homes in the first three years, via Ottawa’s Housing Accelerator Fund.
“In return, the city has pledged measures that include speeding up home approvals, increasing the supply of rental homes and protecting existing rental stock,” the Globe reports.
But, and it’s a biggie: “Thursday’s announcement was also silent about Toronto’s shelter system, which is bursting at the seams…Toronto secured an offer of $600-million over the next three years for its shelters in its recently signed new deal with the Ontario government — but the money is contingent on participation from Ottawa.”
No FOMO: Despite Premier DOUG FORD’s harping on the feds for bypassing the province and going straight to municipalities with housing cash in hand, Housing Minister PAUL CALANDRA continues to play nice with his federal …