Executive summary

The federal government developed the National Housing Strategy (NHS) in partnership with provinces and territories (PTs) and launched it in 2017. The NHS provides a long-term federal funding commitment for 10 years from 2018–19 to 2027–28. The NHS sets the strategic framework for federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work together to achieve better housing solutions across the housing continuum, from homelessness to homeownership.

PTs cost-share and deliver some NHS initiatives and the federal government provides funding to PTs for the initiatives they co-fund and deliver. Ontario and the federal government signed a Bilateral Agreement in April 2018 to implement the NHS. The Agreement requires the Province to develop and submit an Action Plan to the federal government every three years that lays out how Ontario intends to use federal and cost-matched funding to meet the targets and outcomes agreed to with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

To recognize PTs’ concerns related to confirmation of the federal government’s housing priorities and any potential changes arising from NHS program evaluation prior to finalizing the three-year action plan, the federal government provided PTs with the option of developing a one-year (2022–23) interim Action Plan. This second interim Action Plan builds on the achievements of the first one to provide even more assistance to households in need.

Ontario’s is currently discussing amendments to the Bilateral Agreement with the federal government and as such is submitting an interim one-year action plan. A full three-year action plan will follow once discussions conclude

Ontario’s one-year Action Plan is operationalized through three provincially delivered NHS initiatives:

  • Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI)
  • Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI)
  • Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)

Also, the current program guidelines and objectives of these three initiatives will be extended by one year. Feedback from stakeholder consultations will inform future program improvements and program guideline changes.

Key highlights of the Action Plan include:

  • a description of the housing challenges faced by Ontario related to affordability, supply, support services and homelessness
  • details on how Ontario is addressing these housing challenges through various priorities including the Housing Supply Action Plan and Community Housing Renewal Strategy