b'BUDGET SEASONYOUR TAXDOLLARSAT WORKCURRENT GOVERNMENT BUDGET PRIORITIES: A RECAP By Sarah B. HoodWITH THE TIDES OF COVIDResidential Acquisition program. Manyfunding for numerous transit and receding and a new strongother capital projects are also underwaytransportation infrastructure projects, mayor in Toronto, where does thein such areas as transportation, transitand commitments towards tweaking construction industry stand in terms ofand waterfront redevelopment.delivery models and procurement government budget priorities? Are allstrategies to streamline project levels of government in sync with In early 2023, the City renewed its calladministration and speed up approvals.one another?to other levels of government to fulfil their jurisdictional housing obligations,The greatest challenge being faced Certainly, Ontario is in a time ofincluding $48 million from the Provincetoday by the construction industry disruption, but the road ahead may notof Ontario to support 2,000 units ofvirtually everywhere is the shortage be as bumpy as it appears. All levelssupportive housing and $97 million toof skilled construction workers, says of government have made housing asupport refugee housing costs from theCunningham. There is no single silver-priority and are demonstrating someGovernment of Canada. bullet solution to this challenge; it will awareness that the Greater Toronto Arearequire a multi-pronged approach. One (GTA) needs more workers to build it. Housing is a little bit of a double-edgedof the governments highest priorities sword, says TCA president and CEOis the building of 1.5 million homes. As for incoming Toronto mayor OliviaJohn Mollenhauer. Theres an urgentWith the shortage of labour, that will Chow, vested with as-yet-untestedneed for housing, period. When webe a challenge, but the fact that its a strong mayor powers recently createdtalk about the GTA, I read an articlechallenge doesnt mean its an unworthy by the premier, some are expectingrecently that estimated a need for aboutgoal. Cunningham further notes that a smooth transition. Despite all the60,000 units a year, but we only haveCOCA is advocating for increased elevated rhetoric during the campaign,the wherewithal to build about 30,000resources to Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) I think that Doug Ford and Olivia Chowbecause the industry is having someand seat purchase funding to Training will be able to work together, says Iandifficulty finding good skilled labour toDelivery Agents (TDAs).Cunningham, president of the Councilget the work done. In fact, the provincial budget notes of Ontario Construction Associationsthat Ontario is facing a historic labour (COCA). I dont see a lot of ONTARIO BUDGET shortage in the construction sector problems there. Ontario is in its second year of the 2022with over 28,800 vacancies in the third commitment to build 1.5 million newquarter of 2022, more than double the TORONTO BUDGET homes over the next 10 years, and thenumber in the same period in 2019, The City of Toronto 2023 Budgettheme of the 2023 provincial budgetand estimates that Ontario will need includes more than $2 billion to buildis Building Ontario. This years budgetabout 72,000 additional construction and protect housing, of which $18.85includes more than $184 billion overworkers by 2027 to help deliver the million goes towards the Multi-Unitthe next 10 years in public infrastructureprovinces ambitious capital plan.24Quarter 22023 BUILDERSDIGEST'