10 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY DECEMBER <strong>2022</strong> STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM Province aims to cool housing prices with increased foreign buyer tax BY JENNIFER MCLAUGHLIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter According to the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force Report, housing prices in Ontario have almost tripled in the past 10 years – far outpacing growth in household incomes. A recent increase in the non-resident speculation tax (NRST) rate is one strategy the provincial government is using to cool the housing market by reducing demand from foreign investors. “Young families, newcomers, and those all over the province dream of having their own home, a dream which continues to be out of reach for too many,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. Effective Oct.25, the provincial government is prioritizing Ontario families and homebuyers by increasing the NRST rate from 20 to 25 per cent province-wide. This comes after an increase earlier this year, from 15 to 20 per cent in March <strong>2022</strong>. “To help Ontario homebuyers, our government is increasing the Non-Resident Speculation Tax rate by another five percentage points to 25 per cent,” Bethlenfalvy added, “making it the highest in Canada, to further discourage foreign speculation in Ontario’s housing market.” The NRST applies to the price of homes purchased in Ontario by foreign nationals (individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada), foreign corporations, or a trust having a foreign entity as either a trustee or beneficiary. The increased NRST rate is one of several strategies stemming from recommendations from the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force and the Provincial-Municipal Housing Summit. Both initiatives aim to identify and implement measures to address the housing supply crisis. Data supplied by the Ministry of Finance confirms that from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, there were 261 NRST payments made to the province totalling $45.3 million for homes purchased in York Region by foreign speculators. Scott Blodgett, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, advises that these amounts may still be subject to rebates and refunds that could reduce the net NRST collected over time. He clarified, however, that the NRST’s objective isn’t to bring additional revenue to the province. “Instead, the Non-Resident Speculation Tax changes are introduced to help discourage foreign speculation and make sure Ontario families and Ontario homebuyers are the first priority for housing,” he said. “(This) announcement is another step in our government’s plan to make housing more attainable for all Ontarians,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. A commitment to building 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years is another strategy the Ontario government is implementing to increase access to housing across the province. Visit ontario.ca/document/land-transfer-tax/non-resident-speculation-tax for information. The Food Bank of York Region is continuing its efforts to fight food insecurity with a new program to support school-aged kids at both the primary and secondary levels. (FBYR photo) Food Bank of York Region expands into schools BY JENNIFER MCLAUGHLIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Food Bank of York Region (FBYR) is continuing its efforts to fight food insecurity with a new program to support school-aged kids at both the primary and secondary levels. “We are very engaged and committed to helping to support and grow new food pantry and snack programs in our schools. Children need the right nourishment to succeed in and outside of the classroom, and we can help provide that,” said Alex Bilotta, founder and CEO of the Food Bank of York Region. Glad Park Public School in <strong>Stouffville</strong>, with a student population of about 850 kids, was the first York Region school to connect with FBYR last February. A Glad Park staff member who had worked with one of FBYR’s agencies and was familiar with the organization’s programming saw an opportunity for a partnership with FBYR and got the ball rolling. Studies have proven the correlation between nutrition and children’s academic, social, and developmental success. Kids with regular access to healthy food are more likely to succeed than their peers who experience poverty and food insecurity. The FBYR is working towards levelling the playing field for all children because no child deserves to go hungry and be denied the chance to thrive. “Inflation, the increasing number of families relying on low-wage work, and the exorbitant cost of housing in York Region means more families, many who have never experienced food insecurity before, are now relying on help from others. We welcome the support of the FBYR to establish supports in our schools that contribute to food security for students and families,” said Yvonne Kelly, Community and Partnership Developer with York Region District School Board (YRDSB). FBYR credits Kelly with connecting them to schools she recognized could benefit from their support. The FBYR provides a weekly delivery of fresh and non-perishable school-safe snacks and foods throughout the school year. A volunteer team of teachers, support staff, and students coordinates healthy and nutritious meals and snacks from the food supplied by the FBYR for students to eat in school or take home. “We are continuing to expand into schools across the region where our help is needed and look forward to providing some relief to food insecure kids and their parents,” said Bilotta. FBYR continues to engage with new schools throughout the region to help fight hunger and support the basic needs of school-aged children. As of September <strong>2022</strong>, three more York Region schools joined the program: Dr. J. M. Denison Secondary School and Maple Leaf Public School in Newmarket, and Sutton District High School. Visit fbyr.ca for information or to apply for the in-school program. Province wants to fast track sewage system upgrades The provincial government is taking steps to improve the York-Durham Sewage System network to accommodate growth and new housing in the upper part of York Region over the next three decades. Under the proposed Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Act, <strong>2022</strong>, it would fast track improvements to the existing York-Durham Sewage System network connected to the Duffin Creek treatment facility that’s co-owned and operated by York and Durham Regions. “Expansion of this shared critical wastewater infrastructure for York and Durham Regions is needed to support their significant population housing and economic growth. Our government is proposing a solution that ensures the most robust wastewater treatment as these communities continue to grow,” says Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks David Piccini. The proposed legislation follows recommendations made by the York Region Wastewater Advisory Panel, which was created last year to advise the government on possible solutions to meet the region’s sewage servicing needs. Among other things, the legislation would call on York and Durham to work together “to do everything in their powers” to enlarge and improve the existing sewage system to transport sewage from Aurora, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury to the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Durham for treatment and discharge into Lake Ontario, the government explains. “The Duffin Creek treatment facility is one of the best performing wastewater The Duffin Creek Plant was built in the 1970s by the provincial government, and its ownership was transferred to York and Durham Regions in 1997. Photo courtesy of the Regional Municipality of York. facilities in the province that ensures the protection, enjoyment and welfare of Lake Ontario, shoreline communities and nearshore areas,” Piccini says. It has achieved world-class standards for high-quality treatment, phosphorus control and protective measures for the surrounding environment and watershed, with a capacity to process 630 million litres per day, the government reports. The facility currently operates at about 50 per cent capacity. The proposal would add an additional 12 per cent to the current flow level, which means the facility has the capacity to ensure every litre of water received gets high-quality treatment. Phosphorous limits at the plant are significantly lower than those at other wastewater facilities in Ontario and will continue to drop as the facility implements additional upgrades between now and 2030, according to the government.
STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM DECEMBER <strong>2022</strong> COMMUNITY 11 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW 22-MSHF Rodrigues Advertorial NEWS <strong>Review</strong>_10x13.indd 1 <strong>2022</strong>-11-18 4:36 PM
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