Soraya Martinez Ferrada Vows to Accelerate Non-Market Housing Development on City Land
Montreal, June 25, 2025 – The Montreal mayoral candidate and leader of Ensemble Montréal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, commits to accelerating the creation of off-market housing on City-owned land and to keeping construction costs to a minimum. She cites as an example the vacant lot at 1695 Laurier Avenue East – converted into a mini-putt rather than housing – which she describes as a glaring symbol of the inaction she intends to end.
In total, more than 100 lots and buildings have been purchased by the City since 2018. Of this number, barely more than half have been sold or are in planning stages, at the expense of thousands of new housing units that could be built.
An urgent, comprehensive effort is required
Thanks to the leadership of Soraya Martinez Ferrada and the Ensemble Montréal team, Montreal will regain its attractiveness and capacity to develop housing and make it accessible to its citizens, notably by:
- Establishing a one-stop shop for off-market housing through a specialized team that will offer personalized support and simplify administrative steps;
- Exempting off-market projects from municipal fees, including permit and occupancy fees;
- Using 70-year emphyteutic leases on City-owned land to reduce construction costs for off-market housing.
It should be recalled that Soraya Martinez Ferrada has already committed to abolishing the Regulation for a Mixed Metropolis, accelerating permit approval, using incentives and creating genuine financial partnerships to encourage housing development.
Quotes:
“While the Plateau mayor may think Montrealers prioritize mini-putt, I know their real priority is finding decent, affordable housing. As your next mayor, I’ll deliver results, not excuses. My goal is clear: streamline city operations, fast-track permits, and achieve 20% affordable housing. I will be Montreal’s housing mayor, and Ensemble Montréal is the only party that can solve this crisis,” declared Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Montreal mayoral candidate and leader of Ensemble Montréal.
“While construction starts are breaking records in the suburbs, it’s the opposite in Montreal! The numerous constraints and administrative burden imposed by the Plante-Rabouin administration are driving away developers who prefer to build elsewhere than in the metropolis,” highlighted Julien Hénault-Ratelle, Ensemble Montréal spokesperson on housing matters.
“Montreal has the largest housing deficit among major Canadian cities, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The situation is serious: we need incentives to accelerate construction, not obstacles like those imposed by Projet Montréal,” stated Sylvain Gariépy, urban planner and candidate for mayor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension for Ensemble Montréal.”Since the Regulation for a Mixed Metropolis came into effect under Projet Montréal, the housing supply is deteriorating faster in the Quebec metropolis than anywhere else in the country. It must be abolished and the City must become a true partner with all those who can help us increase the housing supply,” mentioned Benoit Langevin, Ensemble Montréal spokesperson on homelessness issues.
