Comment on Proposed Open for…

Comment on Proposed Open for Business Planning Tool

This proposal should be withdrawn.

Municipalities' Official Plans and the Ontario acts and regulations that would be permitted to be by-passed with an Open for Business By-Law were all enacted after public consultation, expert advice and open democratic debate. They are too important to allow exemptions and variances to be approved by a single first tier municipal council without proper notice, consultation with other municipalities that may be affected and public hearings. Ministerial approval is no substitute for public hearings nor for recourse to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. Creating this path to by-pass existing laws and regulations opens municipal councils to pressure to use it.

Far from restoring competitiveness, an Open for Business By-Law would create an unfair advantage for a particular business exempted from complying with legislation and/or official plans while other businesses in the same industry have to “play by the rules”. IF after impartial and careful review it is found the rules require more “red tape” than is necessary to achieve the goals for which official plans, the acts included in Schedule 10 and the Public Policy Statement were designed, revisions of forms and steps required should be designed and implemented such that all businesses have equal access to more efficient but equally effective and protective processes.