Mason's plan centres around expanding housing options, enhancing affordability, and nurturing inclusive, sustainable neighbourhoods throughout HRM.
As Halifax grows and evolves, it’s crucial that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and diverse housing choices. My approach is grounded in the belief that a thriving city is one where all residents—whether they’re students, young families, or seniors—can find a home that meets their needs and suits their budgets.
Halifax has the potential to lead the way in tackling the housing crisis with creative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions. As Mayor, I’ll be dedicated to ensuring every resident of HRM can access a safe, secure, and affordable place to live. Together, let's build a community where everyone feels at home.
The Key Components of Mason’s Housing Plan include:
- Create Housing Halifax: Boost the supply of affordable housing by establishing an arm’s-length agency to partner with not-for-profit, co-op, and private-sector developers, as well as private homeowners, to build and operate housing projects.
- Renew the call for the return of social housing to the municipality: Improve access to already-existing public housing units by renewing the call to take over responsibility for this housing in HRM from the province and by funding this transfer through redirecting $190 million in province-collected property tax to HRM.
- Deliver Faster Market Housing: Streamline municipal approval processes to reduce red tape and delays that increase construction costs. This initiative will ensure that housing projects move from concept to completion more quickly, increasing the availability of homes for families.
- Environmental Sustainability in Housing and Construction: Ensure housing development is more environmentally sustainable by promoting green building practices and preparing for climate challenges. This includes protecting against sea-level rise, improving disaster resilience, investing in emergency management, and working with the province to implement green building codes faster. He will also protect and expand key regional parks like Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes, Purcells Cove Backlands, and Sandy Lake Park.
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