This is further to the…

This is further to the comments under ID #31792, on behalf of Council of the Corporation of the City of Pickering, regarding the Bill 108:

The proposed changes signal significant impacts on: the City’s finances; the ability to secure parkland; the capacity to provide community facilities; and on the evaluation of development applications that would afford appropriate opportunities for public consultation and conservation of heritage resources.

The Bill essentially undermines the principle that “growth pays for growth”, and would see existing taxpayers partially subsidizing new development.

Additionally, Bill 108 contains limited evidence that its central objective, making it easier to bring housing to market and accelerating local planning decisions, will be achieved.

These proposed changes come at a time when the City of Pickering is seeing increased intensification and higher densities, bringing with it the need to provide additional services and facilities to accommodate the new residents.

Such services and facilities help create complete communities, another mandate of the Province through its Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Pickering would be at a financial disadvantage to provide the requisite amenities if the current planning tools and financial mechanisms are eliminated through Bill 108.