The Ajax Pickering Canadian…

The Ajax Pickering Canadian Federation of University Women is responding to the proposed changes in the Ontario government's Bill 108,More Homes,More Choice: Ontario's Housing Plan, Schedule12, Amenndments to the Planing Act.

We are extremely concerned with the proposed changes to the local planning appeal tribunals. They were initially designed to replace the Ontario Municipal Board which had the power to overrule municipal decisions and which from its history did so much of the time. The proposed legislative changes in Bill 108 will simply strengthen and give even more authority to the LPA then was held by the OMB. One must assume this was an intentional move to reduce the authority for local planning by municipalities which in turn decreases the opportunity for community groups to have meaningful impact on community building. Local groups such as citizen groups, property associations, and advocacy groups have an essential role to play in how their communities develop and where resources are focused. Community groups are often the only voice for supportive infrastructure including parks, transit and affordable housing. Many such groups often reflect voices not heard at other forums and they include those of low income and representatives of non-government agencies.These are the voices of people who actually live in the communities and it is their voices that should be heard more then any other. Bill 108 Amnendments to the Planning Act will do nothing to enhance the authority
of municipal governments and the voices of its citizens, instead it appears to be a deliberate act to silence those voices.

We are also very concerned about changes to the existing legislation which will combine and cap charges that a developer must pay to fund local infrastructure at the begining of a proposed development. This leaves the municipality where the development is to occur unable to negotiate community benifits before approving an application. A municipality will not be able to change an application should change become necessary during the building process. One has to assume this change was made with the concerns of the developers in mind and certainly it is to their benifit.

Thirdly, the change in timelines for streaming approvals for Zoning By_Law Amendment applications from 150 days to 90 is not in anyone's best interest except those who will benefit from less of a review process, mainly developers. The proposed changes to reduce official plan amendment applications from 210 days to 120 again will do nothing except impede city planning review processes. Both these changes in the streaming the approval processes are indications the Ontario government is interested in lessing the authority and autonomy of municipalities in Ontario.

The proposed legislation does nothing to promote the process of consultation between developers and municipal governments. No consultative process can be considered genuine or democratic if one participant has more power then the other. Development has a place in all communities but not development for the sake of development. More housing is not what will solve the housing crisis in this province. Rather the quality not the quanity of housing is what needs to be addressed. Housing needs to reflect diverse needs not just those at the high end of the economy. As well, nothing in this proposed legislation addresses the issues concerning housing and development as related to the climate crisis we are facing in this province and globally. Perhaps this is the greatest challenge not addressed in this proposed legislation. A government at any level that ignores the climate crisis we are living in is not just irresponsible but it is part of the problem.This proposed piece of legislation clearly indicates where the Ontario government's priorties lie and it is not with those who are at the municipal level of government. This is most unfortunate and will have an impact on those who have little ability to withstand or challenge the changes that will come with this legislation.

As a group of concerned citizens and members of the Canadian Federation of University Women we are extremly disappointed in the legislative proposals of Bill 108. We believe this legislation does nothing to address the affordable housing crisis in many municipalities nor does it address the climate crisis we are living in today. In many ways this legislation will make existing problems worse.