Housing Then and Now
Campaign material from the 2022 municipal election presented housing as a key priority for mayoral candidate Ethel LaValley.
Campaign Platform
Housing Promise Highlighted During Campaign
Housing was one of the now Mayor’s clearest policy commitments. The campaign flyer stated that the mayor would “actively pursue viable housing solutions in South Algonquin with key partners.” It also linked housing to broader community development and future growth.
Housing shortages have become a common concern in many rural communities, where workforce housing, rental availability, and affordability challenges continue to grow. Because of this, residents may reasonably expect municipal leaders to explore possible solutions, partnerships, or planning tools that could help address the issue.
Housing in 2026
At an Economic Development meeting on February 19, 2025, council discussed the Township’s Tourism and Economic Development Plan. During that discussion, Mayor LaValley said that South Algonquin’s location beside Algonquin Park and the presence of a long-standing land claim limited the land available for housing development impedes development.
She stated that in her view there was little the township could do until the land claim is resolved, noting that the issue had existed for many years and might not be resolved within the current council term.
Both the location beside Algonquin Park and the land claim were well known before the 2022 election. The conditions described during the meeting were already part of the landscape during the last election.
How Municipalities Can Support Housing
Municipalities do not control every factor that affects housing supply or affordability. However, local governments still have tools available, including:
- zoning and planning policies
- secondary unit permissions
- partnerships with regional housing providers
- development approvals and planning processes
- advocacy for provincial housing programs
Because of this, the question is not whether municipalities can solve housing alone, but whether and what available options are being explored.
Mayor takes on District Housing Roles
A March 28, 2025 news article reported that Mayor LaValley was appointed president of the Niska Housing development in North Bay, a project overseen by DNSSAB. There have been no comments on how that additional responsibility adds to or takes away from housing discussions and priorities within South Algonquin.
Why This Matters
Housing affects whether people can live and work in a community. When housing is limited, young families may leave or choose not to move here, workers may need to commute longer distances, and businesses may struggle to attract employees and maintain regular hours of operation.
Local governments cannot solve every housing problem. But leadership, planning, and partnerships still play an important role in facilitating housing and helping community stakeholders participate in creating grass roots suggestions.
Campaign promises create expectations. When housing is presented as a priority, residents expect to see clear effort, open discussion, and ideally visible progress.
For residents, housing is both policy and leadership. Clear goals, consistent actions, and open decision-making help communities tackle difficult issues like housing. Without that clarity, it becomes harder for residents to understand what is being done—or why some things remain not done.
