Plans are already underway for an expanded social and health services hub, but the city needs an additional $2 million from the province to move the project forward.

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy released the province's third-quarter finances Monday, the last major fiscal update he's set to provide before introducing the next budget by the end of March.

The accident comes after the collapse of a structure supporting utilities piping at Algoma's coke-making plant last month.

The city issued building permits that resulted in 1,154 residential housing units in 2023. Its assigned target was 953 units for the year.

In its latest report on red tape and regulation, the organization has challenged municipalities to streamline their permitting processes to help address housing shortages.