Grave Concerns Regarding…

Grave Concerns Regarding Bill 17 Changes to the City of Toronto Act:

We are writing to express grave concerns about the recently enacted Bill 17, the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, and its significant amendments to the City of Toronto Act.

While the stated goal of accelerating housing and infrastructure development is laudable, the sweeping changes introduced by Bill 17 raise serious issues regarding municipal autonomy, local oversight, and the City of Toronto’s ability to manage growth in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Erosion of Municipal Authority and Local Planning Oversight

Bill 17 introduces several amendments that directly limit the City of Toronto’s powers in key areas of land use planning and development approvals. Notably, the legislation:

Restricts the City’s ability to determine what constitutes a “complete” planning application by requiring Ministerial approval for any changes to the City’s application requirements. This undermines Toronto’s capacity to ensure that all necessary studies and reports—often critical for assessing local impacts—are included before development proceeds.

Enables “as-of-right” minor variances to zoning setback requirements, removing the need for municipal committee review for proposals within a prescribed percentage of existing setbacks. This change bypasses local decision-making and public consultation, potentially leading to developments that do not adequately consider neighbourhood context or cumulative impacts.

Limits the scope of what the City can require from developers at the application stage, with the Province proposing to prescribe which reports and studies are mandatory. This could exclude crucial local considerations, such as environmental, heritage, or infrastructure capacity assessments, from the approval process.

Financial and Programmatic Uncertainty

The amendments to the development charges framework, including new exemptions and procedural changes, introduce financial uncertainty for the City. These changes may reduce the City’s ability to fund necessary infrastructure and services to support new growth, shifting costs onto existing residents or leaving critical needs unmet.

Reduced Accountability and Public Engagement

By centralizing more decision-making authority with the Province and reducing municipal oversight, Bill 17 diminishes opportunities for meaningful public engagement and accountability. The lack of committee referral and substantive debate prior to passage further exacerbates concerns about transparency and due process.

Risks to Sustainable and Responsible Development

The cumulative effect of these changes is a significant weakening of Toronto’s ability to ensure that new development aligns with local priorities, sustainability goals, and the well-being of its residents. As noted by local leaders and advocacy organizations, the vague language and broad regulatory powers granted by Bill 17 risk undermining efficiency, environmental protection, and long-term affordability, rather than achieving the intended outcomes.

“Bill 17 will not speed up housing or make it more efficient, in fact, it risks undermining efficiency completely and strapping homeowners with higher utility costs for years to come.”

Conclusion

While the need for more housing and infrastructure is urgent, these objectives must not come at the expense of local democracy, fiscal responsibility, and sustainable city-building. I urge the Province to reconsider the most problematic aspects of Bill 17 and to engage meaningfully with the City of Toronto and its residents to ensure that any legislative changes support—not undermine—Toronto’s capacity to plan for its future.

The City’s ability to manage its own growth, finances, and planning processes is fundamental to its success and the well-being of its communities. Bill 17, as currently enacted, poses a serious threat to that ability and demands urgent reconsideration.

This Bill will negatively impact cities and municipalities across Ontario and needs to be withdrawn.

Thank you.