I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed changes. The province approach to hammer down MZOs negates the input of residents and our elected officials. There is an inherent lack of respect in the proposed approach of negating authority to the municipality and leaving without any voice to residents by this bill. Please do not remove municipal use of site plan control. Also, do continue to give notices so that residents have a say. The province should be strengthening accountability by creating a website with any proposed MZOs with a notice period. Fast development of lands should not be a priority of the provincial government but environmental protection, protection of wetlands, forests and farmlands that contribute to prevent flooding, protect water, help in mitigation of climate change, and protect wildlife for our children. Doing otherwise in the name of accelerating construction periods by developers or land owners is short sighted and harms the residents of Ontario and our children's future. Also, protection of lands zoned as farmland should continue and not be sacrificed in the name of developers. This pandemic has taught us how we should support food supply autonomy in Ontario by supporting their farmlands and leave the zoning planning under our elected municipal government. Furthermore, the proposed changes to give more power to the province that lacks municipal experience and vision on urban and regional issues is harmful to the affected residents.