Regina wants federal housing accelerator money, but may need to make changes to get it

Regina city council will need toaddresszoning and density if it hopes to secure millions of dollars from the federal government. That was the message from Mayor Sandra Mastersin response to questions about the city's application to the federal housing accelerator fund.

Council approved an application to the fund earlier this year. If the city receives approval, it couldaccess up to $36.2 million,driving1,100 permit approvals for housing units in Regina by 2026.

On Wednesday, Masters told media she'd recentlymet with federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser.

"They have given us feedback on our application of how to receive those net new units over and above what we on a standard basis get," Masters said.

The feedback will require council to clear the way for zoning changes that would allow more intensification, meaning construction of new buildings or additions to existing buildings that result in additional units,andincreaseddensity.

Masters did not provide details on what exactly theCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation would like to see change in Regina but a motion facilitating the changes should come before council by the end of the year.

She wouldn't speculate on how it will be received by council.

The Housing Accelerator Fund is meant to increase a region's housing supply, and promote the development of affordable and diverse communities.

However, council has a mixed track record on thingsthat the federal government's Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation describes as "best practices" for the housing accelerator fund.

That includes reducing or eliminating parking standards, such as the parking minimum currently employed by the City of Regina.

Back in July, city council narrowly voted down changes that would haveincreasedthe parking minimums in the city.

As a result, Reginakept the parking minimums it has used since 2019, which require one parkingstall per unit for all residential types.

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Some councillors have also pushed back on increasing density in the city which could prove to be a bad sign if Regina is hoping to gain access to the $4 billion housing accelerator fund.

Fraser has made it clear that not every municipality or city that applies for thefund will be given cash.

"If cities decide to do something less than their best offer, they will be competing for what's left in the fund after we've addressed the most ambitious applications," said Fraser earlier this week.

Ottawa has alreadyapproved some municipal applicants through the accelerator program, including Halifax, Hamiltonand London, Ont.