More than 20 more municipalities in Ontario will be given so-called “strong mayor” powers to help them meet provincial housing targets.

In a speech Monday at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s conference, Premier Doug Ford also announced $1.2 billon in incentives. He says the moves will help communities build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031.

Ford says the new Building Faster Fund will provide funding for municipalities that meet at least 80 per cent of their annual housing creation target assigned by the province, and money can be used to pay for housing-enabling infrastructure such as roads and water lines.

But Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles says the incentives don’t come close to the amount of money municipalities will be losing, under a new provincial law that cuts some of the fees developers pay, which communities use to fund that infrastructure.