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Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

Home Blog Housing Inclusionary housing plan would reduce TO's commuting crisis

Michael Shapcott

Inclusionary housing plan would reduce TO's commuting crisis

The Toronto Board of Trade’s 2010 prosperity report card underlines the costs of automobile commuting in Toronto. TO comes dead last in TBOT’s global survey of 19 cities on commuting time, with Torontonians stuck in traffic an average of 80 minutes versus world-leader Barcelona at a relatively brisk 48 minutes. One key reason for the long commute is that low and moderate-income households have to travel a long way to find truly affordable homes. One practical solution is an inclusionary housing plan for Toronto. Hundreds of US cities have been effectively using inclusionary housing mechanisms for many years – generating lots of new homes. An inclusionary housing plan for Toronto would help build healthy, inclusive neighbourhoods and reduce traffic grid-lock.

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Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott is Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation at Wellesley Institute. Michael has worked extensively in Toronto, in many parts of Canada, nationally and internationally on social innovation, the non-profit sector, civic engagement, housing and housing rights, poverty, social exclusion, urban health and health equity. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading community-based housing and homelessness experts. He is currently on secondment to the Princes' Charities Canada.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.