The MP for Windsor-Tecumseh says it's very disappointing to see that the federal government has rejected Windsor's application for the Housing Accelerator Fund.
Speaking on AM800's The Shift, Irek Kusmierczyk, says it was a lost opportunity for Windsor city council to not accept all of the terms that came with the Fund application.
Sean Fraser, the Minister of Housing, announced the decision in a letter to mayor Drew Dilkens and the City of Windsor Wednesday afternoon. It stated in the letter that with over 500 applications to the fund, and a limited amount of funding, that only the most "ambitious" communities would receive the funding.
The government was looking for cities to agree to a re-zoning amendment that would allow four residential units as-of-right, anywhere in the municipality. Windsor currently allows three residential units as-of-right.
Council did not agree to the full requirements in December or January regarding the HAF.
Kusmierczyk adds that this funding was crucial to help solve the housing crisis in the city.
He says it wasn't a surprise to see this happen after council voted against the terms.
"Very disappointed in the decision again by council to in essence turn down $30-million that we sorely needed for housing, for infrastructure, because we do have a housing crisis in our community."
He says more and more people continue to move to the city as opportunities grow, such as the building of the NextStar Energy electric vehicle battery plant.
"We need to build housing. There's a housing crunch that's only going to get worse, and this was an opportunity, like the other 30 communities that signed onto this agreement, this was an opportunity to get $30-million, to get more housing built, to get more infrastructure built. And unfortunately we let that opportunity slip through our fingers."
Kusmierczyk adds that Windsor was one of the first 20 to 30 cities invited to agree to the HAF terms.
"We were in that group of first 30, the highest growth cities, that were invited to apply first out of 500. And unfortunately we missed that opportunity. And it's sorely needed. The funding is sorely needed, we need to build not just more housing, but we need to build the right type of housing that seniors can afford, that working families can afford, that young people can afford."
Mayor Drew Dilkens released a statement on Wednesday evening to social media that it was disappointing to see that Windsor was rejected for this funding.
He adds that the Fraser rejected their "reasonable proposal", and that while the Minister wanted only four residential units as-of-right, that doesn't work for the City of Windsor.
-with files from AM800's The Shift with Patty Handysides