This Bill would do…

This Bill would do significant damage to important Ontario ecosystems and democratic processes, while doing little to address the affordable housing crisis.

Bill 23 will not increase the affordable housing supply for Ontarians. Affordable housing advocates have already slammed the Bill as permitting “luxury” housing. Woodlands, agricultural lands and wetlands are supposed to be a protected legacy for all Ontarians. These lands should not be used as a pawn for land speculators to buy land cheap, rezone it for development and flip it at a profit.

Bill 23 would strip conversation authorities of their ability to adequately protect from flooding and keep drinking water free from pollution by managing the watershed including wetlands and woodlands. Conservation authorities have these responsibilities for good reason. With the growing impacts of the climate crisis, this is not the time to be removing important environmental resilience.

Bill 23 would remove key powers for municipalities to plan for cost-effective infrastructure by controlling where development happens. Bill 23 would also make it difficult or impossible for conservation authorities, municipalities members of the public to try to enforce any remaining protections for natural spaces, or to ensure climate-friendly development through the appeals process. Residents and local municipalities should be able to manage their lands as appropriate.

This is moving us in the wrong direction. If the province is serious about increasing the housing supply, large, single family homes is not the way to do it.