Milton is one of Canada’s fastest growing towns, located in the heart of the Halton Region. With its young population, strategic location, and strong sense of community, Milton should be a place where families thrive, businesses grow, and workers build stable lives. But right now, rising housing costs and ongoing labor shortages are threatening that vision.

Today, many essential workers—including teachers, nurses, personal support workers, early childhood educators, construction workers, and retail employees—simply cannot afford to live in Milton. Home prices have soared well over $1 million, and rental units are in short supply. For many, wages haven’t kept up. As a result, local employers are struggling to find and keep staff, especially in health care, education, skilled trades, and the service sector. 

This isn’t just a housing issue. It’s a workforce issue. It’s a community stability issue. And it’s becoming an economic crisis. 

When workers can't afford to live near their jobs, they leave—or don’t come in the first place. When businesses can’t hire, they reduce hours, limit services, or close entirely. When housing costs drain most of a family’s income, people stop spending at local stores, restaurants, and services. The connection between affordable housing and a stable workforce is undeniable—and Milton is feeling the pressure on both sides.

Why is this issue happening?

• Rapid population growth:
  Milton is growing rapidly, exceeding the supply of new housing and causing and is also placing strain on resources and increasing the demand for workers in various sectors.
• Rising construction costs:
  The cost of materials and labor has increased significantly due to inflation, making it more expensive to build new homes.
• Land availability:
  Challenges related to land availability and zoning regulations can also impact housing supply. 
• Attracting and retaining skilled workers:
  Milton's affordability issues, particularly regarding housing, make it challenging to attract and retain skilled workers, especially in essential industries like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. 
• Post-pandemic impact:
  The pandemic caused temporary business closures and job losses, leading to a challenging labor market recovery with increased demand for workers.

If we don’t act now, the situation will get worse. Labor shortages will grow, services will become less accessible, and the cost of living will push more residents out. Young families, newcomers, and middle-class earners will continue to be priced out of the very community they work hard to support. That’s unsustainable and unfair.

But if we act now, we can build a stronger, more balanced Milton.

We demand the following actions:

1. Increased funding for affordable housing through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, which supports the development of energy-efficient and accessible homes. Milton would benefit from prioritizing multi-bedroom, multi-generational housing models that suit the needs of our diverse and growing population.
2. Expansion of the Rapid Housing Initiative, a federal program that fast-tracks deeply affordable units in high-need communities. Given Milton’s housing shortage and fast growth, we believe it should be prioritized in upcoming funding rounds.
3. Greater investment in workforce development through programs like Skills for Success and the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP). These initiatives can help local schools, colleges, and employers train the next generation of workers in high-demand sectors like healthcare and the skilled trades.
4. Support for youth and entry-level employment by strengthening the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy & Canada Summer Jobs, which can help young people access local work opportunities in sectors experiencing shortages.
5. A revised municipal funding framework, including updates to the Canada Community-Building Fund, so that rapidly growing communities like Milton receive the infrastructure and social investment needed to support sustainable development.

Milton has massive potential, but potential doesn’t pay the bills. Real leadership is needed to make this town affordable and functional for the people who keep it running. From nurses to mechanics to grocery store cashiers, Milton’s workers deserve a place in this community—and that starts with affordable housing and economic opportunity.

Sign this petition to stand up for a Milton where everyone has a place to live, a job they can reach, and a future they can build.

In addition to signing this petition, please fill out this quick form to share how Milton's housing and labor crisis affects you. Your responses will help strengthen the case to local leaders.