• Stratford, P.E.I., nearing 'end of the road' on town’s growth blueprint, planning chair says

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-08-30 09:00:00.0
  Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Governance]

  The Town of Stratford, P.E.I., is finalizing a new official plan and zoning and development bylaw intended to guide managed growth, with council planning to review the draft for first reading in September and adoption prior to the November municipal elections. The updated blueprint designates the major highway splitting the town as a mixed-use commercial and residential corridor while introducing 'gentle density' frameworks, such as pre-approved architectural plans for townhomes and multi-unit dwellings, to streamline development approvals. Additionally, the planning committee addressed a separate subdivision application from Flourish Development Group proposing 287 housing units off Kinlock Road, noting that the project lacks approval and requires revision following committee concerns regarding modular home concepts.

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• New Affordable Housing Coming to Leamington

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  Date: 2026-08-28 18:30:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Social Services, Infrastructure]

  The Governments of Canada and Ontario announced nearly $3 million in funding—specifically $2,919,397 through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) and $1,858,000 from the federal Rapid Housing Initiative—to construct 18 new affordable housing units at 310 Sherk Street in the Municipality of Leamington. The project forms part of the Tiny Home Community Initiative at The Bridge Youth Resource Centre site, which consists of a total of 50 mixed-income units, including 12 units designed to be accessible for youth, adults, seniors, low-income workers, and individuals facing addiction challenges. The funding supports broader regional housing objectives involving the Municipality of Leamington and the City of Windsor to expand vulnerable resident support services.

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• Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Bradford West Gwillimbury

  Source: Ontario - Premier's Office
  Date: 2026-08-28 15:30:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Affordability, Finance]

  The Governments of Ontario and Canada have announced up to $94.8 million for the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF). In exchange, the Town will reduce development charges by up to 76 per cent from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029, saving homebuyers up to $36,500 per home. The federal and provincial funding, combined with a cost-matched $8.8 billion 10-year infrastructure agreement and expanded HST relief saving up to $130,000, aims to unlock over 29,000 new homes. Specific infrastructure projects funded include upgrading Plant D at the Bradford Water Pollution Control Plant, increasing water storage at the John Fennell Reservoir, widening and reconstructing the Line 8 corridor from Sideroad 10 to Barrie Street, and building new Church Well infrastructure.

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• Province Funds 20 New Sober Living Spaces in Lloydminster

  Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
  Date: 2026-08-27 21:00:00.0
  Tags: [Saskatchewan, Healthcare, Social Services, Housing]

  The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $225,000 in annual funding to Oxford House Saskatchewan to establish 20 new second-stage sober living spaces in Lloydminster, distributed across four residential homes. Client intake for 15 of the spaces began in mid-August 2026, with the remaining five spaces scheduled to open in mid-September 2026. This initiative contributes to the provincial goal of adding 500 addictions recovery spaces under the Saskatchewan Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions, backed by a record $674 million investment in the 2026-27 Provincial Budget.

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• N.S. government changes income assistance rules to exclude people living in tents

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-08-27 12:01:07.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Housing, Social Services, Affordability, Governance]

  The Nova Scotia provincial government, acting on the recommendation of Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of Opportunities and Social Development, introduced regulatory changes via an order-in-council to exclude unhoused individuals living in tents from receiving enhanced income assistance rates. The regulatory amendments replace the term "accommodation" with "lives in a home" and narrow the definition of "home" to self-employed units, rented spaces, lodging houses, or single-occupancy rooms. This policy change directly overturns an August 5, 2026 Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruling in favour of the late Bradley Lowe, which had established that individuals living in tents were eligible for enhanced disability and income support. Human rights lawyer Vince Calderhead criticized the policy as forcing vulnerable individuals deeper into poverty, while the department stated the changes provide clearer administrative direction.

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• Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Hamilton

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  Date: 2026-08-26 20:17:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]

  The governments of Ontario and Canada announced a $572 million investment for the City of Hamilton through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) in exchange for the city eliminating development charges on all residential developments from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. The funding will support key municipal infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Woodward water and wastewater treatment plant, upgrading the Greenhill Water Pumping Station, and widening or reconstructing major corridors such as Barton Street, Lewis Road, Rymal Road, and Garner Road. The removal of development charges is estimated to reduce construction costs by up to $100,442 per home, which, when combined with expanded HST relief, could save homebuyers over $230,000 and unlock over 31,000 new housing units across Hamilton.

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• Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Vaughan

  Source: Ontario - Premier's Office
  Date: 2026-08-26 15:30:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]

  The governments of Ontario and Canada announced that the City of Vaughan is receiving up to $697.2 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) in exchange for reducing development charges by 50 per cent for residential developments from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029, and eliminating them for qualifying projects meeting construction milestones from February 25, 2026, to October 31, 2027. Combined with expanded HST relief saving homebuyers up to $130,000, these measures aim to reduce building costs by up to $98,056 per home and unlock over 120,000 new housing units. The federal funding flows through the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) under a 10-year cost-matched structure, while municipal contributions require a minimum of 10 per cent of project costs to support housing-enabling infrastructure such as watermains, road widenings on Huntington, Kirby, and Teston roads, bridge replacements, and fire stations.

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• Ontario Breaks Ground on Two Long-Term Care Homes in Oakville

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of Long-Term Care
  Date: 2026-08-25 16:00:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Healthcare, Seniors, Infrastructure, Housing]

  The Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care broke ground on two new long-term care homes in Oakville developed by Schlegel Villages Inc. under the province's Surplus Lands program. Known collectively as The Village of Heritage Trails, the project will feature 640 total beds—comprising 554 new and 86 upgraded spaces—organized into ten 320-bed facilities connected by a central amenity corridor. The development is scheduled to welcome its first residents in summer 2028, creating approximately 700 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent long-term care positions while incorporating Living Classrooms training in partnership with Sheridan College.

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