I strongly urge you to allow…

I strongly urge you to allow municipalities to continue to require and use all reports and studies needed to meet their Green Development Standards. (GDS)
Municipalities use GDS to improve health and safety in new homes. lower the energy bills of residents, reduce infrastructure costs, prevent property taxes from increasing and lower demand on our energy systems. Bill 17 would negatively impact each municipality’s ability to implement GDS limiting their capacity to ensure that new development is built quickly, is energy efficient, weatherproof and affordable over the long term. The GDS standards can be particularized to the needs of each municipality. Toronto for example requires standards to ensure buildings which are not vulnerable to flooding and windows installed on tall buildings mitigate bird strikes. Other municipalities may require standards to make sure roofs can withstand wind and hurricane damage or have infrastructure which is less vulnerable to damage from forest fire. I understand that insurance companies (and people who pay for home and building insurance) would support such GDS standards. One code does not fit necessary and vital building requirement needs for infrastructure situations in all municipalities across the province. Timmins and Toronto for example have very different standards needs in certain requirements. GDS reduce red tape and standardize planning processes resulting in long term predictability that housing developers need to succeed in a single document with clear expectation. Thus, GDS accelerate, rather than slow housing development. CHBA has noted that all cities with GDS have made more progress in accelerating approval timelines, while cities without GDS have seen timelines get slower. Regulations related to Bill 17 must be in compliance with other powers and authorities granted to municipalities to avoid confusion and delays. These include the protection of public health and safety, the economic well-being of the province, the minimization of waste and the promotion of sustainable development. Meeting these responsibilities requires that municipalities are able to implement GDS which necessitates studies from builders to ensure they are meeting the standards. Please maintain the municipal authorities, including the ability to require necessary reports, to ensure that new development delivers on health, safety, resiliency and long term affordability for Ontarians while reducing red tape.