www.insideHALTO N.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, April 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 | 6 Editorial Location, location, location It' s a start. Having a meeting just a week ago with mayors repre senting Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe Re gion (GGHR) communities affected by the skyrocketing real estate prices, vacant-house syndrome and a real lack of housing that is affordable to many families, Ontario Pre mier introduced a fix-it plan this week. At least its a start to fix-it plan. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the reasons behind the market trends need to be examined. Following the lead set forth on Canadas west coast, Ontario' s new Fair Housing Plan is a package deal of 16 measures intended to calm the rising cost of housing in the GGHR. Leading the way is a new 15 per cent Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST) on non-Canadian citizens, non permanent residents and non-Canadian corporations buying residential properties containing one to six units in the GGHR. The Premier was clear, it would not affect people new to Canada making their home here, only those with no in tention of calling this home, but parking investment cash. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton commended the plan. It also includes a new rule empowering municipalities to implement a tax on vacant homes, as well as the introduction of a targeted $125-million, five-year program to encourage construction of new purpose-built rental apartment buildings by rebating a portion of development charges. It remains to be seen if Oakville will impose a tax on vacant homes. What is readily seen in Oakville are the vacant homes. It seems like there' s one on every street. As residents from various neighbourhoods chat, they have a similar experience. There' s such a home near them. Burton said, "Rampant offshore speculation has skewed Oakville' s housing market with excess demand. The mayor continues, "Homes should be places to live first and places to invest second." According to figures released by the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board (OMDREB), the median residential sale price of homes in Oakville increased 47.77 per cent between March 2016 and 2017. Unchecked offshore speculation has also resulted in a drastic increase in empty homes in Oakville. In March, Burton called on Halton Region staff to study vacant homes across Halton. According to the 2016 Canadian census, roughly 5,000 homes in Halton are currently listed as "unoccupied" private dwellings, with nearly half of all unoccupied homes in Oakville. "Every time you leave a home empty, you lose a little bit of light and life from that neighbourhood," said Burton, noting this issue is of particular concern for Oakville residents. And an empty house is not the safest of neighbours. While real estate may be a smart investment, especially in troubled economic times, we are feeling the pain of our global economy, and feeling it, in many ways, right here at home where we live. Hopefully this new plan will make a difference now, and in future, for the affordable housing that is sorely needed here. The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. " C o n n e c te d to y o u r C o m m u n ity " ____ Oakville The Beaver. 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classified Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 55 | Number 31 The Oakville Beaver is a division of ·* metrolandmedia · * Connected to your community® Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. N E ILO L IV E R Vice -P re sid e n t and Group Publisher o f M etroland W est K E L L YM O N T A G U E Regional General M anager D A N IE LB A IR D A dvertising D irector A N G E L AB L A C K B U R N M anaging E ditor R IZ IE R OV E R T O L L I Photography D irector L O R IA N NG Z O V D A N O V IC B usiness M anager M A R KD IL L S D irector o f Production M A N U E LG A R C IA P roduction M anager C H A R L E N EH A L L MyView Director o f Distribution K IMM O S S M A N C irculation M anager Honouring Canadian \feterans, past and present ast week, Canadians from all walks of life paused to pay tribute to the brave members of the Canadian Expedition ary Force who achieved victory at Vimy Ridge in 1917. This battle is considered by many to rep resent a defi ning m om ent in Canada's his tory, and it serves as a poignant example of the courage, ingenuity and resourcefulness of Canadian Forces. I was tremendously honoured to represent the Government of Canada at the Battle of Vimy Ridge com m em oration and wreath laying in Bronte April 9. It is im portant to remember not only the glory of this victory, but also the loss of al most 4 ,0 0 0 Canadian lives and the wound ing of 7 ,0 0 0 more. These brave young men died fighting for Canadian rights and values and for the love of their country. They also died for the liberty of our allies T te B l eaver. Proud Official Media Sponsor For: L ·'C C A B Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized fo r Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association O live r Oakville MP Canadian Community Newspapers Association L o calM ed iaesso ciatio n Proud Official Media Sponsor For: in Europe. Their sacrifice during this im portant First W orld W ar battle must not be forgotten. One hundred years later, the bravery and sacrifice of our armed forces remains a point of pride, admiration and gratitude. I am always happy to promote recognition and support of our Veterans. On April 10, I was pleased to speak in the House of Commons about a petition, signed by hundreds of Canadians, requesting that the Government of Canada spell Veteran Og Halton Healthcare O akvlll*galltri Ontario Press Council JL V-J D efen d in gp rin cip lestoin sp irep u b lictru s t The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located a t 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 4 16-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event o f a typographical error, that portion o f advertising space occupied ty the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance o f the advertise ment will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. see Our on p.7 Pud by Steve Nease · REGISTRATION OPEN · 9 0 5 -8 2 5 -9 9 9 4 - 461 N. Service Rd. 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