Feds kick in $228M for 6,800 Calgary homes with increased density

The federal government is kicking in $228 million for just shy of 7,000 new homes in Calgary over a four-year period, prompting praise from the mayor, who noted the province's absence.

The federal government is kicking in $228 million for just shy of 7,000 new homes in Calgary over a four-year period, prompting praise from the mayor, who noted the province's absence.

"We are living in a housing crisis. "It's manifesting itself in very serious ways, both at an individual level and a community level," the federal housing minister told reporters at city hall on Tuesday.

Sean Fraser said, however, the money is contingent on the city relaxing zoning restrictions to allow for increased density, among other requirements.

"We have signed agreements with eight different cities across the country. We are seeing extraordinary change at a pace that most people did not think was possible even a few months ago. I can't find a reasonable argument that would cause anyone to say 'we should go slower' when we've got a housing crisis. We have no reasonable excuse to put the brakes on a program that is showing its worth," he said.