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Internal Ford government notes admit it will ‘not reach’ 1.5M homes target
🇨🇦 Canada /Economy & Trade

Internal Ford government notes admit it will ‘not reach’ 1.5M homes target

From Global News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Internal government documents reveal Ontario's Progressive Conservative government will not meet its 2031 target of building 1.5 million new homes.
  • Notes from late 2024 indicate the government acknowledged the goal was impossible due to insufficient time and a need for Indigenous consultation.
  • Opposition parties criticize the government for failing to deliver on a key campaign promise and for a perceived lack of action on the housing crisis.

Ontario's Progressive Conservative government has internally admitted it will not achieve its ambitious pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2031, according to documents obtained by Global News.

1.5 million homes not reach target, more context.

— Internal Ministry NotesA handwritten note from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing indicating internal acknowledgment of the unachievable housing goal.

The commitment, a cornerstone of the party's 2022 election campaign, aimed to address housing affordability by significantly increasing supply. However, housing starts in the province have declined, and the target has become increasingly elusive, even after the government broadened the definition of a new home.

Handwritten notes from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, dated between October and December 2024, suggest internal discussions about the goal's impossibility. One note explicitly states: "1.5 million homes not reach target, more context." The notes also mention insufficient time for Indigenous input and caution against making further housing pledges.

This is just more broken promises from Doug Ford. Doug Ford wrote a cheque he couldn’t cash because his government is ideologically opposed to building housing.

— Marit StilesOntario NDP Leader criticizing the government's housing pledge.

Opposition parties have seized on the internal admission. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles accused the Ford government of breaking promises and being ideologically opposed to building housing. "When did the Conservatives decide that this target didn’t matter? How long did they lie to the people of Ontario about being on track to build 1.5 million homes?" Stiles stated, adding that Ontario has fallen to last place in home construction.

When did the Conservatives decide that this target didn’t matter? How long did they lie to the people of Ontario about being on track to build 1.5 million homes? Ontario has fallen to last place when it comes to building homes. This is just proof that Doug Ford has given up on fixing the housing crisis.

— Marit StilesOntario NDP Leader criticizing the government's housing pledge.

Government officials have previously downplayed the 1.5 million target. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy referred to it as a "soft target," while Housing Minister Rob Flack has avoided repeating the goal when questioned, instead focusing on creating conditions for homebuilders.

This legislation continues to build on the work we have done previously to create the conditions (for) homebuilders to do what they do best and that is to build.

— Rob FlackOntario Housing Minister speaking about housing legislation in October 2025.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Global News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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