This is one of the most…

This is one of the most outrageous and inappropriate amendments to legislation this government has proposed. The Provincial Policy Statement is in place to guide planning decisions on matters of provincial interest. If a minister’s zoning order is being contemplated (or abused, as they currently are given the excess number issued lately), that is all the more reason an MZO should be required to apply with provincial policy. Why else does the province have these guidelines? Why have municipalities devise official plans if they will only be railroaded by MZOs that benefit developers and few others? Why is this amendment necessary when the province just revised the PPS last year?

Planning is supposed to be an open and transparent process to benefit communities. MZOs are a tool being used in excess with economic recovery as the sole excuse. The amendment is being put forward to quash legal challenges the province is receiving about its own decisions like the Foundry site in Toronto and the Durham Live site in Pickering. This proposed amendment should be deleted from the legislation.