After our review of Bill 17,…

After our review of Bill 17, it seems clear that the Provincial Government aims, at least in part, to undermine or eliminate municipal government’s ability to protect health, safety, and the environment by “clarifying” that municipalities do not have jurisdiction to determine their own best course of action in planning matters. Municipalities already experience enough pushbacks without the need to be undermined by the province, giving staff even less support when adhering to policies and rules.

One specific concern for Oliver Paipoonge is with respect to variations to minor variances: the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing would have regulation-making power to allow certain variations that would be permitted as of right. The Act proposes to establish a regulation that will set a percentage of a setback that will be permitted as of right. A proposal for a regulation that has been posted for comment states that the percentage will be 10%. This speaks only to fully serviced areas, begging the question of what happens in rural areas.

Creating simplified, standardized and inclusive land use designations suggests that the barriers between the larger urban areas of southern Ontario will continue to negatively impact northwestern Ontario. Rural areas tend to be forgotten when policy is created, and this is no different.