I oppose the expansion of…

I oppose the expansion of powers that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is proposing because:

1) This consultation is disingenuous coming after implementation of its major elements.

Bill 197 the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020 that enables the Minister to address site plan matters and apply inclusionary zoning as part of a zoning order was already pass in a record 14 days without any consultation. These powers have already proven to be disruptive and destructive to local control and democracy. Now the government is undertaking consultation on a further expansion of these powers, and to ask the public how these powers ought to be used? They should only be used under extraordinary circumstances not 38 times in 2 years. And why would you have legislated these expanded powers if you didn’t know how they were going to used?

2) MZOs in the past were used very sparingly - only 3 times in the previous 15 years. The Ministry under this government is overriding municipal planning processes and suppressing community voices in complete disregard of established local authorities. What next? Getting rid of municipal planning entirely? If local planning departments and conservation authorities are to be made irrelevant, be honest and dispense with them entirely. Then we know who to hold responsible.

3) The government is using the excuse of building affordable housing to justify these expanded powers. The reason for the lack of affordable housing is the government's own funding cuts over the past 25 years. Without a specific plan for affordable housing and a commitment of funding to build affordable housing, your claim is hollow. If this is your justification for these expanded powers, no one will believe you. Be honest and own up to the fact that you want to help the development industry, which has supported you politically.

4) Under these expanded powers, the government is seeking to control all site planning details. Site planning has always been the responsibility of municipalities, which have the site specific knowledge to manage traffic, walkways, lighting, waste facilities, landscaping and exterior design. Without this local knowledge, the province will make mistakes that will cost communities and Ontario taxpayers greatly. If this is what you intend, be honest so that citizens will know who to blame.

For these reasons, I am writing to express my opposition to the expanded powers that the Minister of is seeking.