This is to express our…

This is to express our strong opposition to Schedule 6.of the omnibus Bill 23.

We agree with Architectural Conservancy Ontario which says Bill 23 is a “bomb” dropped into Ontario’s Heritage System:
"Whether intended or not, the changes proposed for the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) in Bill 23 will make it practically impossible to protect most of Ontario’s identified heritage properties."

Bill 23 makes major amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) that will destroy the municipal system of cultural heritage protection in Ontario, based as it is on “listing” and “designation”. The heritage register represents a “watch list” of buildings that have heritage value, which are protected from demolition for 60 days, whereas designation provides legal protection for a property.

Under Bill 23 all listed properties on the municipal heritage registry (that are not officially designated) will no longer have listed status after two years, unless they are designated within that period. Right now, municipalities have 60 days to prevent the demolition of buildings with potential heritage value. Under the new provincial rules, there will be only 30 days to protect the building, which is too short for municipal council action – and some buildings may even be exempt from heritage designation the moment a development application is submitted. This is turning back the page on nearly 50 years of cultural heritage protection in Ontario.
Why is heritage important in the first place? ….because heritage recognises the authenticity of a place (like a neighbourhood). This means the ability to connect to its past, interpret its history, and also benefits to the local economy by attracting both visitors and residents, in a holistic and efficient way that reflects local realities. The latter is especially key to main street commercial properties that are at risk of losing their scale and fine grained character.
So why is heritage important in Leaside?
“Leaside is probably the best example we have in Toronto – or perhaps Canada - of a fully-planned “garden” or “railway suburb” that was built in the 1930s/40s in accordance with a single overall plan. As such it may well qualify as a potential Heritage Neighbourhood – one that comprises a set of clearly identified and planning and design features that are repeated right across the community”
This is a quote from noted Planner John Van Nostrand in 2015 when Leaside was being considered in the City’s Heritage Conservation District (HCD) shortlist.

While to this point not obtaining an HCD, Leaside has a number of listed and designated heritage properties in Leaside. So let’s consider the threat to cultural heritage in Leaside resulting from the OHA amendments. Reviewing the listed properties (i.e. those not designated) that were either listed by the former Borough of East York (1975 to 1997) – four properties (including two original Lea family homes, or the City of Toronto (1998 to present) – 33 properties including 22 Research Road, a WW2 plant that made radar, and main street commercial properties on the east side of Bayview Avenue. These properties would be automatically de-listed by Bill 23, unless designated within two years.

This creates a real risk of irretrievable loss of cultural heritage due to demolition, not to mention the wasted energy by generations of municipal councils (East York, Toronto), staff, and volunteers.

There are many misguided proposals in Schedule 6 of the Bill, such as increasing the number of criteria to be met for the protection heritage properties. This change will effectively exclude many heritage places of importance to Indigenous, Black and other marginalized communities who celebrate their culture in this province.

The changes to the Ontario Heritage Act will have a devastating effect on the ability of Ontario’s communities of all sizes and kinds to preserve and protect the places we cherish and hold dear. The multicultural impact, with its anti-inclusionary effects, alone is an embarrasen to the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. These proposals will have NO DISCERNIBLE EFFECT ON HOUSING STARTS and will increase uncertainty and unpredictability in land use planning decisions.

The Leaside Residents Association (LRA) requests that the changes to the Ontario Heritage Act NOT BE PROCLAIMED.