Dear Minister Clark, I…

Dear Minister Clark,

I understand the government wants to open up Ontario for business to help our economy recover from COVID. Small businesses need support. In Ontario over 95% of businesses are small businesses. Unlike many small businesses the construction and development industry continued to operate throughout COVID.

MZO's provide the biggest benefit to land developers and large to medium size businesses, not small businesses. If a property is rezoned to industrial warehouse from farmland it is the landowner/developer who benefits as property values can jump to 1.6 million an acre according to CRBE.

Ministerial zoning orders are a unique tool. MZO's are generally used in a judicious manner as they overstep two important principals of good land use planning, an orderly process and opportunities for public participation.

I urge the government to live up to its promise not to allow development in the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine. Please amend the Greenbelt and ORM Acts to remove the exemptions for Ministerial Zoning Orders.

I also urge the government to remove provisions for MZOs in the Places to Grow Act and Ontario Planning and Development Act in regard to natural and hydrological features and systems within those plans.

Thank you for your consideration,

Below are some excerpts.
Greenbelt Act
Zoning orders
16 (1) The Minister may make orders exercising any of the powers conferred upon the Minister under section 47 of the Planning Act in respect of the areas designated as Protected Countryside in the Greenbelt Plan. 2005, c. 1, s. 16 (1).

Same
(2) Section 3 of the Planning Act and section 7 of this Act (requirement to conform to the Greenbelt Plan) do not apply to an order under subsection (1) and an order need not conform to an official plan in effect in the area covered by the order. 2005, c. 1, s. 16 (2).

Same
(3) Nothing in this Act derogates from the power of the Minister to make an order under section 47 of the Planning Act in respect of the areas designated as Protected Countryside in the Greenbelt Plan. 2005, c. 1, s. 16 (3).

Oak Ridges Moraine Act

Orders under Planning Act, s. 47
14 (1) Nothing in this Act derogates from the Minister’s power to make an order under section 47 of the Planning Act with respect to land within the Oak Ridges Moraine Area. 2001, c. 31, s. 14 (1).

Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and official plan
(2) Despite subsection 7 (1), an order referred to in subsection (1) need not conform with the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan or with the relevant official plan. 2001, c. 31, s. 14 (2).

Places to Grow Act

Effect of growth plan
Limitation

(3) Subsection (1) (requirement to conform with the Growth Plan) does not apply to a policy statement issued under section 3 of the Planning Act or a minister’s order under section 47 of the Planning Act. 2005, c. 13, s. 14 (3).