I respectfully ask you to…

I respectfully ask you to listen to the many voices in Ontario who believe that Bill 23, as currently written, would lead to irreparable environmental damage and increased costs to taxpayers through climate change related flooding and rising costs of importing food due to the loss of valuable farm land. I am writing to express my opposition to Bill 23.

I understand the need to build more homes, but even affordable housing advocates and your very own Ontario Affordable Housing Task Force do not support this low density sprawl, when municipalities have many permitted building sites that are not being used. The government of Ontario needs to remember that their mandate is to serve ALL the people of Ontario, and not just those of developers, who are intensely pursuing a land grab under the guise of meeting housing demands.

I urge the government of Ontario to explore other options to meet housing demands that will not sacrifice the environment, particularly when municipalities are facing the growing impacts of climate change.

Bill 23 removes Conservation Authorities' ability to refuse development projects and permits based on pollution and conservation of the land. It transfers many of the regulatory responsibilities to municipalities, who lack the expertise to determine how construction on wetlands will impact species at risk and wildlife habitat. The mandate of Conservation Authorities is to ensure safe development which includes actions to prevent flooding and erosion, protect drinking water sources and biodiversity. Frequent storms and flash floods are becoming more common, and it could be disastrous and costly for municipalities if they are unable to have access to the scientific based expertise of Conservation Authorities.

Municipalities must maintain their capability to enter into agreements with Conservation Authorities to seek their advice and expertise. Conservation Authorities have established streamlined approaches for reviewing plans and issuing approvals. In 2021, over 90 percent of all permits issued by Conservation Authorities met provincial timelines. Collaboration with Conservation Authorities will help regulate development and mitigate negative environmental impacts.

Changes to the Planning Act will increase low-density urban developments into wetlands, forests, farmland, and rural areas where Ontario’s most sensitive ecoregions exist. The government must prioritize Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs) being exempt from development.

The government needs to follow the recommendations made by its own Ontario Affordable Housing Task Force, which noted that there are 88,000 acres across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) that are already designated for development with appropriate infrastructure in place.

The government must honour its commitment to maintain environmental regulations, such as the Toronto Green Standard, that works to lower emissions and mitigate climate change.

Bill 23’s amendments to the Planning Act would impose sprawl on conscientious municipal governments like, Hamilton, Halton and Waterloo, who have made extraordinary strides in protecting wildlife habitat and farmland. Their ground breaking plans and efforts to deliver the denser, walkable, lower-cost forms of housing and workplaces in existing neighbourhoods and unused designated greenfield areas, should be held up as a model for other municipalities to follow.

Bill 23 removes community engagement from the development and decision-making process and the government of Ontario needs to be transparent and provide opportunities for public input. The multi-stakeholder Conservation Authority Working Group needs to continue working with the Province to provide advice and solutions.

I urge the Ontario government, to reject Bill 23 and make a commitment to work with all stakeholders to create a new bill for affordable housing that does not sacrifice the environment or bankrupt taxpayers.