Ottawa threatens to pull Toronto's housing funding over sixplex decision
In a letter to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow earlier this week, Robertson wrote that he's disappointed by a recent decision to limit where builders can put up to six housing units on a lot.
Last month, Toronto city council compromised with a plan that would see some wards sign up to the sixplex framework, while others would have the choice to opt in later.
Robertson argues that decision went against Toronto's agreement with the federal government under the Housing Accelerator Fund — a tool Ottawa uses to encourage cities to rapidly build more housing.
Toronto signed a deal with the feds in late 2023 that would see the city build nearly 12,000 new units over three years and receive $471 million in federal funding.
In his letter, Robertson encourages Chow to revisit the sixplex decision over the next five months and warns Toronto could lose some of its housing funding if the city fails to meet the goals of the original agreement.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
15 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
City fines Montreal church for hosting MAGA-affiliated singer Sean Feucht
MONTRÉAL - The City of Montreal has fined a local church for hosting a concert by the U.S.-based Christian musician Sean Feucht. Feucht's controversial views and his status as a rising star in the MAGA movement have led officials to cancel his concerts in several Canadian cities in recent days. But on Friday evening, an evangelical church in Montreal allowed Feucht to perform a hastily scheduled concert over the objections of the city administration, and is now facing a $2,500 fine. A spokesperson for Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said the Ministerios Restauración Church in the city's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough did not have a permit to organize a concert, and had been informed that the event could not take place. 'This show runs counter to the values of inclusion, solidarity, and respect that are championed in Montreal. Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not acceptable in Montreal,' Philippe Massé said in a statement. 'A ticket was issued because the organization violated the regulations by going ahead with the show.' Protesters gathered outside the church during the concert Friday evening. Montreal police say they arrested a 38-year-old man for obstruction. They also say a smoke bomb was set off inside the church during Feucht's performance. Feucht reacted Saturday on social media to the events in Montreal, claiming that two smoke bombs were thrown at his head during the concert. 'Now you want (to) fine the church for doing what the church does - WORSHIP,' he said on X. 'Every Canadian should be embarrassed/concerned with this. No bigger scandal in Canada.' The church did not respond to requests for comment from The Canadian Press. Feucht was scheduled to perform east of Ottawa in Alfred, Ont. on Saturday afternoon, before moving on to the Toronto area on Sunday. The Christian singer describes himself as a musician, missionary, author and activist. He has spoken out against 'gender ideology,' abortion and the LGBTQ+ community, and his religious and political views have grabbed the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. The Atlantic magazine, based in Washington, D.C., recently described Feucht as a Christian nationalist who has become a 'MAGA superstar.' 'Between praising President Donald Trump as God's chosen one and suggesting that abortion supporters are 'demons,' Feucht has repeatedly advocated for the fusion of church and state,' the article says. Complaints from residents and planned protests have prompted officials to cancel all six of the concerts scheduled as part of the eastern Canadian leg of Feucht's 'Revive in 25' tour over the last week, forcing him to seek alternate venues. On Tuesday, Parks Canada announced it had revoked a permit for a performance scheduled at a national historic site in Halifax, citing 'heightened public safety concerns.' Concerts have since been cancelled in Charlottetown, Moncton, N.B., Quebec City, Gatineau, Que. and Vaughan, Ont. Feucht announced his Montreal concert venue on Thursday, after his planned Friday show in Quebec City was cancelled. A second spokesperson for Plante said the show was scheduled at the 'last minute without notice.' The singer says he's the victim of 'Christian persecution,' and is accusing Canada of tyranny and censorship. 'A couple crazy activists started raising up all of this ruckus across Canada, and one by one all of our permits were cancelled out of safety concerns,' he said in a social media video posted Friday night following the Montreal performance. 'Here we are in the middle of a firestorm.' Feucht still has a series of concerts scheduled in western Canada in August. On its Spanish-language website, the Ministerios Restauración Church says it has 700 congregants, 'whose lives have been restored and transformed by the work God does through our ministry.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2025.
Epoch Times
16 hours ago
- Epoch Times
Canada Condemns Hong Kong Authorities After Warrants Issued for Overseas Activists
OTTAWA—The Canadian government is condemning Hong Kong's law enforcement authorities after they issued bounties and warrants for 19 pro-democracy activists, some of whom live in Canada. In a joint statement, federal Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Saturday that Canada will not tolerate what it describes as an attempt for Hong Kong 'to conduct transnational repression abroad.' The statement came after Hong Kong police announced Friday warrants and rewards for 19 activists for 'suspected contravention' of its National Security Law for their roles in promoting self-determination in the Chinese special administrative region. Some of the activists named, including Canadian Victor Ho, already faced warrants stemming from an announcement from Hong Kong in December and have a HK$1 million reward for information for their arrests. 'The new warrant … will help to draw more attention for (the) international community to realize that the transnational repression of (China) is so toxic and dangerous to normal people on exercising freedom of expression and speech,' Ho said in a text message to The Canadian Press. Ho added he was not surprised to hear his name on the new warrant list again, and the best policy on handling the situation is 'to keep everyday business as usual as possible.' The new list of 19 people added at least three other Canadian residents to the list with rewards of HK$200,000 offered, including Vancouver-based activist Keung Ka-wai. Keung said while he is somewhat concerned about his safety, he does not plan to stop his work in the Hong Kong democratic movement as he has already been arrested nine times and jailed twice for his participation before leaving for Canada. 'It is very important to us because that is our dream,' Keung said of the pro-democracy movement. 'And we have to do what must be done to develop the democracy of Hong Kong. 'I think it is really important to me and to every Hong Konger.' Hong Kong police said in its announcement that they are calling on those on the wanted list to return and turn themselves in instead of 'making more mistakes,' but Keung said he has no plans to do so. Ho agreed, adding that he is not concerned about his personal safety and has cut off all contact with Hong Kong family members since last year, and Global Affairs Canada has reached out to find out how many people living in the country are being targeted. In their joint statement, Anand and Anandasangaree criticized the warrants and say Canada 'stands in solidarity' with other 'international partners whose citizens and residents have also been affected by the new development,' which it calls an 'act of transnational repression.' 'The individuals targeted yesterday under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law in Hong Kong include Canadians and people with close ties to Canada,' their statement said. 'Canada reiterates its previous calls to repeal this law, which violates Hong Kong's international human rights obligations, and withdraw all related warrants and bounties.' Back in December, Ho responded in a Facebook post to his name being on the then-announced wanted list as the 'best Christmas present.' 'A Canadian citizen like me … has the protection of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and exercised his right to the freedom of speech,' said Ho, who is the former editor-in-chief of the Sing Tao Daily newspaper. Ho helped launched a plan in Canada to elect an unofficial 'Hong Kong parliament' in 2022, and the organizers' Facebook page says voting wrapped in June and garnered 15,702 total votes.
Hamilton Spectator
21 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Rod Stewart offers scathing words for Trump and ‘51st state' threats at Toronto concert
Rod Stewart did not mince words for U.S. President Donald Trump on a Toronto stage this week. A Budweiser Stage crowd roared with applause Tuesday night as Stewart, flanked by background dancers in sparkly black dresses, danced to a patriotic Canada-themed parody of Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' that was being played on screen. 'At first we were afraid, we were petrified,' concertgoers could hear as the ardent take on the hit song played from the stage's speakers. The contemporary twist on Gaynor's anthem was performed by Plainfield, Ont., singer Sonya Zaback. At the end of the line, 'And now we've banded all together, your tariff made us strong,' the British singer and songwriter pumped his arms into the air. The 'I Don't Want to Talk About It' star grinned as the lyrics continued: 'There's not a snowball's chance in hell we'll be your 51st state' to cheers from the audience. Stewart walked backwards across the stage as the cover crooned, 'So now just go, walk out the door. We do not need you, you're not welcome anymore.' 'Weren't you the one who instigated these trade fights? You're soon broke to regret it — when we turn out your lights.' Stewart jumped and cheered, facing the screen blaring footage of Toronto streets and fireworks behind the lyrics. '51st state, my f—king ass,' Stewart yelled as the song came to a close, pumping his fist in the air again. Rod Stewart danced and cheered to an anti-Trump rendition of 'I Will Survive' on a Toronto stage Tuesday. In recent weeks Trump has been less vocal on his taunts to annex Canada as the '51st state,' but the two countries remain deadlocked in negotiations over a trade deal that would avert tariffs on Canadian goods. Trump has set a deadline of Aug. 1 for the two countries to reach an agreement. 'I think Canada could be one where they just pay tariffs — not really a negotiation,' Trump told reporters Friday. Stewart is set to hit the stage at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Saturday night. With files from The Canadian Press
