On the weekend, this op-ed argued that we are not talking about essential housing-enabling infrastructure, or announcing funding for it. But let’s take a step back. Two weeks ago the National Taskforce on Housing and Climate released a Blueprint for More and Better Homes. We talked a lot about infrastructure - and in particular the need to better use the infrastructure we already have. Yes, you heard that right. This country is overflowing with under-used housing-enabling infrastructure. The hook this Blueprint hangs on is the recognition that if we want to build resilient homes that are affordable and can be built quickly, we need to build where we *already have* infrastructure. We have transit, schools, water, roads and parks in neighborhoods that are losing density, and in areas where our zoning actually allows *more* housing. It’s true. We can build more housing today at the drop of a hat. A thread: theglobeandmail.com/opinion/…

Our Taskforce on Housing and Climate report is out. And we put a stake in the ground. The No. 1 factor for building affordable, low-carbon and resilient homes is where they are built. Building “inside existing communities” can be cheaper, faster and less carbon-intensive. Once built, communities with 'sufficient' density enable the choice of living without a car, thereby significantly reducing household costs. That is the foundation - the starting point - that the rest of our 140 recommendations hinge on. Every new housing development across this country that requires new roads, schools and transit should be viewed as off-side with a climate forward approach to new housing development. Read the report, here: housingandclimate.ca/bluepri…