The president of the Alberta Federation of Labour is concerned the millions of dollars being allocated for affordable housing may lead to the cutting of corners in the rush to build homes.

Gil McGowan is calling for strings to be attached to future funding for residential projects.

The federal government announced in November a $1-billion fund dedicated to getting more affordable housing built.

Calgary will be the beneficiary of $228 million in funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) after the federal government supported the city’s recently approved housing strategy.

The funding is set to fast-track the construction of more than 6,800 housing units over the next three years, and fund initiatives to spur the construction of upward of 35,000 new homes over the next decade.

McGowan says the large amounts of money that are being earmarked by governments at the federal and municipal levels for new housing projects are an opportunity to address not only the housing shortfall but will serve as a chance to “clean up” the residential construction sector.

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