This is an obvious attempt…

This is an obvious attempt to further curtail the ability of CAs to stand in the way of unbridelled development. The Ford administration has stopped enforcing the Provincial Policy Statement for protection of wetlands and has prevented CA staff from working with municipalities in the review of development proposals. The attempt to claim that this consolidation will eliminate administrative inefficiency is completely undermined by the creation of a provincially controlled agency that is completely unnecessary given that Conservation Ontario already exists. It's all about "streamlining" development proposals and illustrates, once again, that the Ford government is bent on rewarding the lobbying efforts of developers.

There is no question that there is a dire need for more affordable housing in Ontario, but capitulating to developers who want to build more McMansions in the Green Belt has nothing to do with creating affordable housing. If the province was serious about this issue it would work with municipalities to increase density within existing urban footprints and do something about the tax system which treats real estate as an investment asset class rather than as a place to live.