Waterloo Region is currently experiencing acute impacts on housing delivery as a result of ongoing water capacity constraints, driven in part by a prolonged under-investment in infrastructure and the application of planning methodologies that have artificially altered the direction, pace and type of growth. The cumulative impacts have resulted in water capacity constraints and a risk management approach that includes an indefinite development freeze across large portions of Waterloo Region. While WRHBA fully recognizes the importance of protecting drinking water and environmental systems, the current approach has extended beyond prudent risk management and has materially undermined housing supply, economic activity, and employment in the construction sector.
At present, the absence of clear provincial direction has often resulted in an effective prohibition, regardless of whether a proposed system meets appropriate technical and operational standards. This increases uncertainty for prospective applicants, resulting in less investment and higher housing costs that ultimately flow through to new home purchasers and renters.
The proposed requirement that municipalities provide consent where prescribed criteria are met represents a necessary and appropriate policy adjustment. It ensures that municipal decisions are objective and meet province-wide standards rather than subjective or shifting local policy position. It will also restore confidence that appropriate and technically supported projects can proceed in a predictable manner.