© Jack Heath 万锦市副市长许正杰(Jack Heath)
万锦市渔人村居民协会和万锦市副市长许正杰(Jack Heath)将于5月6日上午举行房屋论坛,探讨省政府房屋新政的影响以及如何解决房屋的可支付性问题。
以下是贴心姐妹网对万锦市副市长许正杰(Jack Heath)的书面专访:
Loving Sister: What are the major issues related to housing in Markham?
Jack Heath: Affordability has to be #1. The recent upswing in prices for single family, semi and town homes means fewer people can afford to live in Markham. How are young families supposed to buy a home? We hear of homes being left vacant also. That is not good for neighbourhoods and I trust the province’s solutions for municipalities with these circumstances will work.
Loving Sister: Are the policies/measures announced by the provincial government through its "Ontario's Fair Housing Plan" and budget recently adequate to deal with the issues related to housing in Markham? If not, what kind of policies/measures do you propose?
Jack Heath: We will find out won’t we! A little speculation in buying and selling homes has always been part of the residential real estate scene in Markham and across the GTA. I was not opposed, but when it grew dramatically, it hurt communities like ours. It is out of control. The province has introduced a foreign buyer tax and, at the same time, urged the Canada Revenue Agency to look at residential real estate speculation by Canadians. When we discussed this at Council, I wanted a full program to deal with changes in the housing market, and felt that it was the provincial government’s responsibility, not just one municipal government’s issue. The province has many more tools than we do. I am pleased they took on the task.
Loving Sister: Should the City of Markham utilize some tools the provincial government offers such as a vacant homes property tax and airbnb/hotel tax?
Jack Heath: An additional property tax for vacant homes should be looked at, although I always think “the devil is in the details.” How much extra? How long does a home have to be vacant before the tax is charged? Etc. On the Air B&B issue, these are small businesses operating in residentially-zoned areas. Markham Council has been looking at this issue for a while and we will see staff recommendations in the next few months. Personally, I think it is essential that short term rentals, which is what Air B&B is all about, should only be permitted in owner-occupied homes. Most problems occur where the owner is absent - house parties, excessive parking, noise, etc. If the owners were living there, they wouldn’t put up with it! The province has given us many options to think about.
©Loving Sister Media Inc.
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