Vaughan gets $697M housing boost as Ford pledges support against U.S. tariffs

Ontario and Canada are making homes more affordable in Vaughan by giving the city up to $697.2 million for housing-enabling infrastructure in exchange for reducing and eliminating development charges over three years.

The Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) is providing this funding to recognize the commitment to cut residential development charges in half between March 30, 2026 and March 31, 2029.

Vaughan is eliminating development charges altogether from Feb. 25, 2026 to Oct. 31, 2027 for qualifying residential developments that meet specified construction milestones.

The funding recognizes the city’s early leadership in reducing development charges. It will help build more homes and community infrastructure.

“I know that workers and families are worried about how tariffs will raise costs and impact their jobs, that’s why this announcement is so important. It’s delivering on our plan to build a more competitive and resilient economy,” says Premier Doug Ford.

“It’s helping keep thousands of construction workers on the job, it’s saving families hundreds of thousands of dollars and it’s showing what Team Canada can do when we all work together.”

This investment will also advance the province’s plan to protect Ontario by investing in projects that lower costs for families, support economic growth and keep workers on the job in the face of the latest U.S. tariffs on Canada.

“For our part, Ontario is delivering nearly $30 billion in tariff support including through our $1 billion Protect Ontario Financing Program which is helping tariff-impacted businesses keep their doors open and keep workers on the job,” Ford says.

WATCH MORE: Canadian govt. announces counter-tariffs on nearly 900 U.S. products

“We’re keeping taxes fees low, saving people and businesses $12 billion each and every single year. As a matter of a fact, folks, we have never raised a tax, we will never raise a tax. We’ll continue lowering taxes.”

The changes to Vaughan’s development charges are estimated to reduce the cost of building new homes by up to $98,056.

These initiatives could save Vaughan families up to $230,000 off the cost of a new home when combined with the up to $130,000 in savings enabled through the expanded HST relief on eligible new homes.

In March 2026, the Ontario and federal governments agreed to jointly invest $8.8 billion over 10 years for infrastructure investments in Ontario, with Canada’s share of the funding flowing through the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF).

The two governments also agreed to provide relief on the full HST on eligible new homes from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, saving homebuyers up to $130,000 off the cost of a new home.

“By partnering with Ontario and municipalities like the City of Vaughan through the Development Charge Reduction Program, our government is helping families save up to $230,000 on the purchase of a new home when combined with the removal of the HST,” says the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, minister of international trade and MP for Brampton East.

“We’re also unlocking over 120,000 new housing units while investing in the infrastructure that our communities need. This is what building strong at home looks like.”

“Making life more affordable for Vaughan residents is a top priority. Vaughan has been at the forefront of addressing housing affordability by taking decisive action to reduce development charges and lower the costs that too often get passed on to homebuyers,” says Mayor of Vaughan Steven Del Duca.

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