I cannot understand the…

I cannot understand the provincial governments obsession with controlling what the City of Toronto and other municipalities choose to do within their jurisdiction. Bill 60 includes a number of unwarranted measures interfering with the choice of municipal leaders duly elected by their constituents.

Green development standards do not drive the cost or the timeline for project development approvals. There is no evidence for this, and the Province has not offered any data of its own to demonstrate why it is proposing the removal of these standards and associated bylaws.

Green development standards lead to a better product - more resilient buildings that are cheaper to operate for occupants. We acknowledge that continued emission of greenhouse gases to our atmosphere will create costs and reduce the quality of life for all Ontarians. Yet our provincial government acts against the best interests of its citizens, intervenes in municipal jurisdictions on policy that is popular with the constituents that elected their local leaders, and publishes official documentation that casts aspersions on effective policies by labeling them 'so-called green development standards'.

There are serious challenges to development. Bill 60 does not address those challenges. I strongly oppose Bill 60 in its current form.