Mayoral candidate Param Singh says empty buildings could be converted into affordable housing
Ottawa mayoral candidate Param Singh has announced his housing plan, which includes a vision of converting empty buildings to affordable housing.
Singh, a longtime Ottawa police officer, says he would continue investing in the city’s 10-year housing and homelessness plan, but proposed several ways to increase the city’s housing stock.
“I envision us converting empty buildings into affordable housing which can be achieved and accomplished in an affordable way. I envision utilizing and maximizing the city’s stock of land to produce new housing supply dedicated to affordable living. I envision utilizing the latest building technologies to build these safe, secure, and affordable homes. I envision working with the large developers of our city, to produce more affordable units within existing and developing communities and ensure that these homes meet the needs of growing families and remain affordable,” he wrote in a news release Monday.
Singh suggested funding the city spends on housing residents in temporary shelters and motels could be redirected to permanent affordable housing.
“The city spends millions of dollars per year on these temporary shelters and motels. We can take that same budget and provide individuals and families with a more permanent roof over their heads, a place to call home with all the basic amenities.”
He said he supports plans to develop bylaws against evicting tenants to renovate units and relist them at higher prices, a practice known as “renoviction” and he said he would strengthen bylaws that protect tenants.
Singh also said he would look at creating a non-profit housing acquisition strategy in Ottawa.
“We will work together (city and stakeholders) and identify places where we want to build these affordable homes. Using traditional and creative minds, we will then create programs and initiatives that would use these data points to provide the city with opportunities to grow our supply of quality affordable housing and meet our social commitment to all our residents,” he wrote.
Housing has been a major issue on the municipal election campaign, with several mayoral candidates issuing housing platforms. Singh is one of 14 people running for mayor.
Mark Sutcliffe is pledging to build 100,000 new homes in the city over the next 10 years and 1,000 new community housing units per year.
Catherine McKenney is vowing to end chronic homelessness (that is, relying on shelters or temporary accommodations for more than six months) within four years by building supportive housing using federal funds.
Mike Maguire says he would create a personal housing assistance subsidy that is tied to the individual and not the unit, meaning they can move and still receive aid.
Election Day is Oct. 24. Special advance voting runs until Sept. 27 and there are two other advance voting days in October.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.
Woman, 18, killed by co-worker's vehicle on Highway 1 in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw police say an 18-year-old woman who was at work has died from injuries she sustained in a collision with a vehicle being driven by her co-worker last Thursday.