After reviewing the…

After reviewing the Provincial Policy Statement, The Planning Act, and the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario it appears that the issues around unorganized townships in Northern Ontario have not been adequately addressed. The PPS does not adequately address the unorganized townships particularly in Northeastern Ontario.

Recently Parcels in unorganized townships have been purchased for the express purpose of selling shares in the property. The use of an ‘unorganized township’ for these communes/communities/medieval villages or land lease communities is used as a selling point to shareholders. Unorganized townships are portrayed as having few regulations. Every shareholder will own one unregistered land lease lot on the said Parcel which is owned by a corporation. These communities are mostly ‘off grid’ and some are called medieval villages instead of land lease communities. These Parcels of land in unorganized townships are divided into ‘lease lots’ without ever having gone through the rigors, requirements and approvals for subdivision under The Planning Act. This shareholder structure appears to be seen as a way of going around The Planning Act and proper approvals for subdivision.

There is little to no properly planned infrastructure such as waste management, fire protection, road development, sewage, gray water solution and drinking water availability in these ‘off grid’ land lease communities. Safety of residents when roads are not maintained or easily accessible on land lease lots that are not marked with numbers is a concern for both fire and ambulance services. Fire services may not be available at all.

This practice of creating land lease communities is in contravention of Section 47(2.1) of the Planning Act which states that only one land lease community home per parcel is allowed. It also appears to contravene sections of the PPS such as section 2.7 which states that town sites shall not be permitted. The PPS or the Planning Act does not state how these villages, or communes, or land lease communities, are to be prevented or regulated while more pop up unannounced in the unorganized townships of Northeastern Ontario.

The PPS, The Planning Act, and the growth for Northern Ontario document should reflect the situation that exists. By not addressing the growing issue of lease lot communities in unorganized townships in Northern Ontario, proliferation of land lease communities is guaranteed. The PPS needs to address the unorganized townships more diligently taking into account existing residents, Indigenous rights and the adverse effects on the environment. Wording should be included clearly stating that lease lot communities remain illegal and existing enforcement procedures require updating to be effective.