The Town of Arnprior has…

The Town of Arnprior has identified several concerns with the proposed legislation including:
Development Charges Act - This piece of legislation moves away from the longstanding idea that growth should pay for growth. It brings significant changes that would alter how local governments are able to raise revenue through development and community benefit charges in order to provide critical services.
Planning Act, 1990 - The amendments that Bill 23 made to the Planning Act, 1990 undermine the development of healthy, equitable, sustainable communities.
Implications for Parks and Recreation - Bill 23 strips local governments and conservation authorities of the power they need to provide critical services, implement sustainable environments, and build livable communities. The changes made to the Development Charges Act and Planning Act will have a significant impact on how municipalities are able to recover the costs associated with growth.
The reduction (or elimination) of development charges, community benefit charges, and parkland dedication quotas for high and medium density areas and affordable and attainable housing threatens parks and recreation at its core.
Local governments rely on fees such as development and community benefit charges to fund municipal services such as parks and recreation. Lacking adequate revenue from these sources, municipalities will be responsible for providing services to a greater number of residents with less dollars per capita to make this happen.
Without a corresponding increase in revenue, this will result in a drop in service provision and fewer amenities, particularly for newly developed communities without a corresponding increase in other revenue streams. This would shift the financial burden of growth from developers to taxpayers, feeding into Ontario’s affordability crisis.
Furthermore, we support the comments and concerns raised to the Standing Committee by our consultant, Watson and Associates, and by AMCTO on November 17, 2022, as well as the presentation prepared by AMO dated November 16, 2022.
With thanks,
R. Paquette, CAO, Town of Arnprior