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23 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,F ebruary 10,2022 insidehalton.com Existing Cabinets Made Functional with Custom Pull-Out Shelves YOUR DREAM KITCHEN WITHOUT THE RENOVATION Gain More Access with Optimized and Organized Cabinets and Containers FREE Design Consultation (289) 812-8952 shelfgenie.com Locally Owned & Operated - FULL SERVICE DESIGN & INSTALL -CUSTOM TO THE MILLIMETRE -LIFETIME WARRANTY The much-anticipated draft report by the prov- ince's Housing Affordabili- ty Task Force (HATF) falls short of its intended goal. So says Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, who criticized the report when it was brought before council on Jan. 31 -- noting it is "un- able to do anything about making housing more af- fordable." Recently, the Town of Oakville released its take on the HATF's leaked re- port, which was making the rounds in the media, and deemed the recom- mendations as being "con- trary to the Livable Oak- ville Plan," among other criticisms. The report is still in draft form and is subject to change. The Livable Oakville Plan is the town's official plan, essentially a blue- print that lays out how land will be used in Oak- ville. Some of the recommen- dations from the HATF findings include the reduc- tion of exclusionary zon- ing, allowing any type of housing up to four units and four stories high on a single residential lot, and disallowing public consul- tation under some circum- stances. "The recommendations contained within the draft report could significantly alter the way in which mar- ket-based housing is deliv- ered throughout the prov- ince," states the town staff's report. "It is acknowledged that there are a variety of fac- tors limiting purchasers' access to housing, beyond simply supply," it added. Some of the factors list- ed were a lack of infra- structure investment from the province in key growth areas, federal immigration policy resulting in in- creased demand and a backlog of cases at the On- tario Land Tribunal. Burton pointed out that a recent survey by Onta- rio's Big City Mayors (OBCM) found that at least 250,000 new housing units approved in 2019, or earlier, have not been built. OBCM is a gathering of mayors from municipali- ties with populations of 100,000 and above. "The task force has so far ignored that," said Bur- ton. "When an industry is sitting on an unused inven- tory of approvals, of a quar- ter-million units in a prov- ince the economists have told us is 100,000 units short and needs 30,000 more units a year to achieve price equilibrium, the task force has missed the target." Coun. Sean O'Meara questioned town staff's criticisms in their report about the HATF recom- mendations. "I guess what I'm asking staff is ... is that not the en- tire intent of this docu- ment? To upset and turn over the apple cart about what municipalities are doing? Or am I missing something?" Burton responded: "Councillor, whether we can speak to their intent, the effect would be as you say, absolutely, you are cor- rect." "Intent is important to know," O'Meara continued. "The whole document is de- void really of intent and I guess the intent of things is to do things differently." HOUSING AFFORDABILITY REPORT INEFFECTIVE: MAYOR Mayor Rob Burton has been critical of the province's Housing Affordability Task Force draft report. Town of Oakville Screencap photo MANSOOR TANWEER mtanweer@metroland.com NEWS