Re: ERO # 019-1406 -…

Re: ERO # 019-1406 - Proposed regulatory matters pertaining to community benefits authority under the Planning Act, the Development Charges Act, and the Building Code Act

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Proposed regulatory matters pertaining to community benefits authority under the Planning Act, the Development Charges Act, and the Building Code Act.

I am writing to express concern over the changes described in this proposal in respect to how cities provide and fund parks through development. This proposal removes and alters important tools available to cities that fund critical infrastructure, like parks.

This proposal requires cities to choose between parkland dedication and instituting a community benefit charge. Both are necessary to create livable communities.

Allowing cities to require onsite parkland dedication is a key tool for growing cities, especially as land prices rise. This makes acquiring land through purchase much more difficult.

The recent COVID 19 pandemics crisis has underscored how crucial for our health is healthy environment and how, especially in big cities, we all depend on green places and our parks to seek respite, enjoy view of wildlife to provide connection with nature, place to rest and explore.

Over the past couple of weeks thousands of people in all Canadian big cities, such as Toronto and Vancouver flocked to the parks instinctually to recover from stressful news and regain balance and resolve to cope with unprecedented crisis in their lives.

COVID 19 crisis revealed our inner need for nature that we seek in difficult times. For the big cities and urbanites this call can be on daily basis only answered if green spaces, parks and remaining natural ecosystems within the cities are available.

Under this proposal, even if cities wanted to keep this dramatically limited parkland dedication by-law, it would mean forgoing the ability to institute a Community Benefit Charge. Cities will have to choose.

This proposal will hinder the ability of cities across Ontario to provide parkland for the future which in view of our growing COVID 19 crisis experience seems totally counterproductive and not providing for sustainable cities. This is something we’re already struggling with as land becomes more scarce and expensive.

Please, provide more time to consult with cities and their residents on a responsible way to provide the parks for our growing cities needs taking fully into account learning from COVID 19 crisis.