I am in full support of the…

I am in full support of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario's comments on the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement, 2023 (PPS 2023). I find that the proposed PPS 2023 substantially weakens the policies in the existing PPS 2020 with respect to cultural heritage, and as such, it would undermine a vital part of Ontario's heritage protection regime. As proposed, the severely curbed policies in section 4.6 of PPS 2023 are not in alignment with the intent and spirit of the Planning Act, where conservation of features of heritage interest are a "matter of provincial interest". And these policies do nothing to further the goal of increasing affordable housing in the province.

I am especially concerned that the proposed restriction of application of the provincial policy to the proposed definition of "protected heritage property" would direct provincial and municipal planning authorities to conserve only currently formally designated property and archaeological sites, cutting out the vast majority of other cultural heritage resources that currently exist in the province, particularly the many properties that are currently in the listed heritage inventory in Ontario.

In short, I urge you to adopt the recommendations contained in the comments of the ACO of Ontario with regard to the province's proposed Provincial Planning Statement, 2023.