The proposed change to the…

The proposed change to the Planning Act is not supported. Without the guidance of the PPS, the Ontario public has no certainty in terms of the Minister's actions and no confidence that matters of Provincial interest as listed in the Planning Act and qualified in the PPS are being appropriately addressed.

The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) is an important planning document that applies to almost all lands in Ontario. The policies of the PPS help to balance matters of provincial interest when making land use planning decisions. The Planning Act provides the Minister with very broad powers with respect to the issuance of a Minister's Zoning Order. In combination with legislation related to Provincial Plans, the Minister is already permitted to issue these orders without having to conform with those plans. The PPS also includes a policy that provides the Minister with the authority to issue an MZO that gives consideration to "other matters." For the Province to now overtly permit the Minister to issue an MZO without being consistent with the PPS seems completely irrational.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is the lead Minister responsible to the preparation and implementation of the PPS. The Minister should lead by example, when it comes to implementing his/her own policies and plans. This proposed change to the Planning Act would be doing the exact opposite, thereby setting a poor example for other public and private decision making when it comes to land use planning.

Over the last year, the Minister has issued many MZOs, most within very short periods of time from when the request for an MZO has been received. Given this very rapid decision making timeframe, at the very least, the Minister should be guided by the policies of the PPS.