The government of Premier Doug Ford has given the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo a total of $16.7 million after changing how it measures progress on housing.

Both cities fell well short of their 2024 housing targets, counting new homes started when foundations are poured. It’s how the province formerly measured progress.

But after housing starts fell, the government started adding beds for students and beds for the elderly in nursing homes, as well as basement apartment conversions and licensed retirement suites.

By this higher count, Kitchener achieved 105 per cent of its housing target last year. Waterloo achieved 129 per cent and Cambridge achieved 47 per cent.

By housing starts, Kitchener achieved 69 per cent of its 2024 target. Waterloo achieved 60 per cent and Cambridge bottome

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