Ontario's newest associate housing minister is facing scrutiny regarding his commitment to increasing housing density in the province. Graydon Smith, the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Parry Sound—Muskoka, was appointed as the Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing as part of Premier Doug Ford's cabinet reshuffle last week. His responsibilities include overseeing modular and attainable housing as Ontario aims to construct 1.5 million new homes by 2031.
However, during the recent election campaign, Smith seemed to oppose the concept of higher-density housing in his riding. In a campaign video posted on social media, he questioned, "What would you think if an 11-storey tower was brought in right here in the middle of town? Oh, and if you don’t like it, too bad, no appeals accepted. Completely crazy, right?" This statement has drawn criticism from various political figures.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles remarked that Smith was “sticking his foot in it” with his comments, suggesting that his track record does not reflect a commitment to the housing needs of the province. “This doesn’t surprise me, unfortunately. This new associate minister does not have a track record of building the kind of housing that we need to see in this province,” Stiles stated.
Smith's sentiments were echoed by Premier Ford, who also expressed opposition to increased housing density during the campaign. Ford spent a day in Oakville, where he received an endorsement from Mayor Rob Burton, who criticized proposals for fourplexes and taller buildings. Burton described Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie’s suggestion of unlimited height by transit stations as a “threat” to his town, reinforcing the Ford government's stance against increasing density in urban areas.
Stiles accused the Ford government of fundamentally opposing the development of more housing, asserting, “They’re telling you exactly who they are — they don’t intend to build the housing that Ontarians need and they don’t intend to make the change we need.” She highlighted that the Ford government has failed to deliver on its promises regarding housing development over the past seven years.
Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner also criticized Smith, stating, “Let’s be clear, what the people of this province, if we’re going to solve this crisis and build homes that people can afford in the communities they know and love, we need a government that’s going to say yes to housing and unfortunately the Ford government has failed to do that.”
In response, a spokesperson for the premier’s office supported Smith’s position, arguing that he understands local needs as a former mayor of Bracebridge. “Municipalities know best what works for their communities and as a former mayor of Bracebridge, Min. Smith understands these local needs the best,” the spokesperson said.
As the political debate continues, Ontario is experiencing a significant decline in housing starts. February 2025 recorded a 36 percent drop in new housing starts compared to the previous year, and overall, housing starts are down 33 percent so far this year. According to the Ontario government’s housing tracker, only nine of the province’s 50 largest municipalities met their targets for new homes, with Ontario starting just under 73,000 of the 125,000 new homes it aimed to build in 2024.
In a separate but related development, the Progressive Conservatives made a significant promise during the recent election campaign to eliminate tolls on the provincially owned portion of Highway 407. Doug Ford announced on February 5, 2025, that a re-elected PC government would permanently remove tolls from the 407 east between Brock Road in Pickering and Highway 115 in Clarington, claiming it would save daily commuters $7,200 per year.
Ford asserted, “Just imagine that: anyone using that area along 407, $7,200 a year (is) going back into your pocket.” After winning a third consecutive majority government, Ford confirmed that Brampton South MPP Prabmeet Sarkaria would continue as the province’s transport minister. Sarkaria has held this position since 2023.
Despite the promises, the timeline for when toll removal will take effect remains unclear. The Ministry of Transportation did not provide a specific answer when asked for an estimate. However, a spokesperson indicated that the government is committed to following through on the promise. “Work will begin soon on this initiative so that we can put money back in taxpayers' pockets as soon as possible,” said Dakota Brasier, a spokesperson for the government.
Brasier highlighted that the Progressive Conservatives have previously removed tolls from other provincially owned highways, stating, “We are making life more affordable — and helping keep costs down — for people across Ontario. That is why they removed tolls on Highways 412 and 418.”
It’s important to note that the 407 ETR, the privately owned portion of the highway, was sold off in 1999 for $3.1 billion, a move Ford has criticized as a “big mistake.” He has even suggested the possibility of buying it back, but that remains a topic for future discussion.
As Ontario navigates its housing crisis and transportation policies, the effectiveness of the Ford government’s promises and the commitment of new officials like Graydon Smith will be closely monitored by both constituents and political opponents.
