I am the President of the St…

I am the President of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association (SLNA). I am writing to express our profound disagreement with Bill 108, which, if passed, will have wide ranging and detrimental impacts on our neighbourhood. Bill 108 proposes changes to 15 separate Acts. While all changes will impact our neighbourhood, the proposed changes to the Planning Act, Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act, 2017, the Development Charges Act and the Ontario Heritage Act will be felt most directly.

The SLNA has been a vocal and visible supporter of community driven planning over its decades of existence. As the neighbourhood has developed, the SLNA and its Development Committee, led by Suzanne Kavanagh, has been actively involved with developers and City planners, working to preserve the heritage and unique character of our streets and parks. On many occasions, despite the significant work of the City and the SLNA in fashioning development that reflected planning goals and addressed community concerns, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), an unelected and unaccountable body, endorsed commerce over community and allowed developments which blatantly breached the Planning Act and ignored the community’s concerns.

The recent creation of the Local Planning Appeal Board (LPAT), and the abolition of the OMB was seen as a long overdue confirmation of the authority of local governments to uphold their provincially approved Official Plans, and an endorsement of the need to give a louder voice to the communities affected, and their elected representatives.

It is remarkable and disheartening that the provincial government, which only last year joined with all parties in creating LPAT and abolishing the OMB, has decided to re-make LPAT into a more powerful and regressive OMB, and give preference to developers and commerce over communities and neighbourhoods.

Aside from the reconstitution of LPAT, many other changes are proposed which will harm the community. As none of the regulations which will spell out the precise impact of the changes have been released for public review, it is not possible to determine the significance and range of the impacts.

Despite the lack of regulations and the remarkably short timeline provided for analysis and comment, the City of Toronto led by the City Manager, the Chief City Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, has put forward a comprehensive analysis of the wide-ranging impacts of the proposed legislative changes which have been forwarded to the province. We adopt the recommendations and concerns expressed.

Our ability to comment on the legislation has been severely curtailed by the short period provided for comment. We echo the City’s request that the time for providing analysis and comments be extended to permit a comprehensive review of the proposed legislation, and its impacts.

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on Bill 108, and hope that after hearing from so many concerned communities, the government will undertake a more consultative approach to legislation which impacts every neighbourhood in the province.

Your truly,

Richard J. Anobile, President, SLNA

cc. Suzanne Kavanagh, Chair, SLNA Development Committee
Board of Directors, SLNA