WECAR™ Statement on Ontario Liberal Housing Plan
(December 12, 2024 – Windsor-Essex) – The Windsor-Essex region, like the rest of Ontario, is in the middle of a housing affordability and supply crisis. Residents in our communities, especially young families and first-time buyers, want solutions that will open the door to homeownership.
The Ontario Liberal Housing Plan (More Homes You Can Afford) offers bold measures that could offer hope to those in search of attainable housing. The commitment to eliminate the provincial land transfer tax for first-time home buyers is a significant step to making home ownership more affordable. This initiative will remove one of the most significant financial barriers, saving families in Windsor-Essex thousands of dollars on their first home. These savings will empower buyers to increase their downpayment, giving them access to a wider range of housing options.
Additionally, the plan’s commitment to eliminate development charges on middle-class housing addresses one of the root causes of the affordability crisis: excessive costs on new housing construction. Ontario remains one of the most heavily taxed jurisdictions for housing in North America, and these proposed changes mark a critical step toward making homeownership attainable for more people in our province. The Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors believes strongly that governments at all levels must work harder to lower taxes on homeownership. The current provincial land transfer tax rebate has failed to keep pace with skyrocketing home prices, leaving first-time buyers paying more year after year.
We call on all political parties to commit to lowering taxes on housing in the lead up to what is likely a 2025 provincial election.
Maggie Chen
2024 WECAR™ President
