This tool appears to be very…

This tool appears to be very similar in function to the 'Minister's Zoning Order (MZO)' which has been used with increasing frequency. This tool would have an accompanying guideline that sets out the scope of use and expectations for community and indigenous engagement and environmental protection/mitigation. These issues are important to consider and address in decision-making.
The present MZO tool, and the proposed Accelerator tool, present an alternative decision-making pathway that appear to be intended to fast track priority approvals.
If such a tool is to be used, a guideline would be beneficial to enable municipalities to consider how it might be used.
The guidelines appear to permit this tool to be used for a broad range of development categories, including “mixed use development,” with no clear threshold for the ‘mix’ or how much it must relate to the stated intent of ‘housing and infrastructure.’ This could result in the tool being applied to development at scales that would typically proceed through a neighbourhood planning process and careful change management that is led by and decided on by the elected Council of the Municipality, with public scrutiny and rights of appeal.
Although the guideline notes that the Municipality must ‘support’ the request, increasing the availability of Minister-ordered planning could have the effect of increasing the number of instances of setting aside the robust, municipally-led planning process.