Dear Madam/Sir, Please…

Dear Madam/Sir,

Please accept this submission as Environment Hamilton's formal comments on Schedule 3 of Bill 257. Environment Hamilton is strongly opposed to Schedule 3. We are deeply concerned about the manner in which this government has been utilizing MZOs in a far more frequent and inappropriate manner. There are too many instances where decisions being imposed through MZOs are not in the public interest - nor in the provincial interest. That is why we do not support any move to empower the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing to be able to issue MZOs without taking into consideration the provincial interests set out in the Provincial Policy Statement. By virtue of our opposition to this proposal, we are staunchly against any proposal to apply such a reckless change retroactively such that 'any existing Minister's zoning orders never had to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement.'

We are dumbfounded by Schedule 3. How could this change be in the provincial interest and in the public interest? In the introductory section of the 2020 version of the Provincial Policy Statement, the following description of the PPS is set out:

The Provincial Policy Statement provides for appropriate development while protecting
resources of provincial interest, public health and safety, and the quality of the natural and built
environment. The Provincial Policy Statement supports improved land use planning and
management, which contributes to a more effective and efficient land use planning system.

We fail to see how Schedule 3 will facilitate the proper implementation of the PPS based on the description provided above. The PPS is about protecting provincial interests and, by virtue of this, protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians. We demand that Schedule 3 be removed from Bill 257 in order that the PPS continues to prevail as a tool for protecting and upholding core provincial interests.

Thank you
Dr. Lynda Lukasik
Executive Director
Environment Hamilton