**Housing Minister Uncertain on Development Fee Cuts** OTTAWA - The federal housing minister did not confirm a commitment to a Liberal election promise aimed at reducing municipal development fees. During a visit to Toronto for an announcement, Housing Minister Gregor Robertson faced questions about whether the government still plans to cut these fees in half to lower homebuilding costs. Robertson stated, "Development charges are a significant challenge for the cost of building across Canada, and that’s why we made a commitment to reduce those charges." He added that the government was initially considering a 50 percent reduction in partnership with provinces and territories but did not clarify if this goal would be met. More information is expected to be revealed in the upcoming federal budget on November 4. The Liberal platform from the spring election pledged to halve development charges for five years. This plan includes working with provinces and territories to address revenue shortfalls. The platform also mentioned federal investments in infrastructure, such as water and wastewater systems, as potential offsets for the lost revenue. Development charges, which builders pay to cover infrastructure costs linked to new housing, have become a growing source of funding for municipalities. Critics argue that these rising fees contribute to increased building costs and hinder efforts to address Canada’s housing supply shortage. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized that financing remains a significant barrier for builders looking to start new projects. She noted that the city is in discussions with Ottawa about modifying development charges. "We’re really focused on bringing the cost of building down. That’s the goal here," Robertson told reporters. He highlighted that infrastructure costs are closely tied to development charges, particularly in cities like Toronto and Vancouver. During his visit, Robertson announced federal funding for Toronto’s sewer infrastructure and the first housing project under the new affordable housing agency, Build Canada Homes. The federal government will allocate up to $283 million through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to upgrade the Black Creek sewer system, with an additional $425 million from the city. This sewer system currently serves around 350,000 residents. Improvements to the sewer line are expected to facilitate the construction of an additional 63,000 homes. The first project under Build Canada Homes will add 540 units at Arbo Downsview, with at least 40 percent designated as affordable housing. The agency plans to issue a request for qualifications this week for developers interested in utilizing factory-built housing technologies for the project.