Current MZOs are being…

Current MZOs are being exploited so I do not agree that they should be given any advanced authority. Local and indigenous communities should be consulted on any project that is going to permanently affect the land. There have been protections put in place to protect Ontario land, communities and its heritage. These new powers are being created to continue to side step those protections. This is unacceptable. Over the past year we have seen many communities (e.g. Durham, Vaughn, Pickering, Toronto) and organizations (96 signed a letter to Minister Steve Clark this past November) protest MZOs that are destroying the things that Ontarians' care about.

We do care about affordable housing, community spaces, etc. BUT not at the expense of ignoring community input and/or the province's own environmental & heritage laws/protections. MZOs should be used when communities are in dire need (e.g. to help give indigenous communities clean drinking water ) instead they are being used for Casinos (like in Durham) or skyscrapers (plans have shown that there will be less than 300 affordable housing units) in the West Don Lands. This blatant disregard to what the people of Ontario want is undemocratic and I do not support giving the proposed enhanced authorities.