I am extremely concerned…

I am extremely concerned about the proposed amendment to the Planning Act that would permit the Minister to issue a Zoning Order that is inconsistent with the Provincial Policy Statement. At a minimum any government contravention into a process should be consistent with the foundational policy framework that municipalities utilize to structure their planning policy documents.

There is already the perception that receiving planning approval for developments is difficult, although there is little recognition that planners are trying to balance the development pressures and create communities that respect economic development and environmental stewardship while being prudent financially.

Rural municipalities face similar pressures to expand however there is strict policies to protect prime agricultural land. If the development community believes that they can approach the Ministry for approval to override or sidestep the planning process, it will be much harder for staff and community members to understand why development is ok on one property and not the other. Also, there is a huge financial component regarding the unplanned expansion of infrastructure in rural areas.

Lastly, the absence of public participation in the process erodes the public's confidence in the planning process in general.