BACK TO THE FUTURE – Ontario Government restoring OMB?
The Ontario government recently introduced Bill 108, a retrograde piece of legislation that threatens existing, well-considered planning acts.
The legislation will provide near carte blanche rights to the development industry as well as relieve developers of the requirement to provide necessary community facilities and parks/green spaces to support complete communities. We as taxpayers may have to pick up the tab for infrastructure improvements, playgrounds, community services, etc., while leaving developers collecting tidy profits.
The legislation would bring back the old OMB (Ontario Municipal Board) rules under the LPAT name, where the provincial tribunal will again have the power to override any municipal or provincial planning regulations. The legislation might even include banning community participation at OMB appeals (in major transit station areas like ours)!
Now is the time to mobilize and act before it’s too late. There will be two public meetings on the proposed Bill 108 on Monday, May 27, 2019. City Councillors and City staff will be in attendance at both of these meetings. To learn more about the changes proposed and what we can do, join city councillors and City of Toronto Chief Planner Gregg Lintern at one of these townhall meetings on Monday, May 27th at 7pm. These meetings are free and open to all.
Public Meetings:
Town Hall meeting with Toronto City Councillors Shelley Carrol, John Filion and Jaye Robinson.
Date: Monday, May 27, 2019, Time: 7 to 9 p.m., Location: Earl Haig Secondary School, 100 Princess Ave
Town Hall at Earl Haig Secondary School
Town Hall at Toronto City Hall.
Town Hall meeting with Toronto City Councillors Kristyn Wong-Tam, Gord Perks, Josh Matlow, Mike Layton, Paula Fletcher, Joe Cressy, Ana Bailão, and Brad Bradford.
Date: Monday, May 27, 2019, Time: 7 to 9 p.m., Location: City Hall Council Chambers, 100 Queen Street W
Information about the proposed changes to the OMB (Bill 108):
Thanks to Councillor Mike Colle for organizing a Town Hall on Thursday May 16th. The meeting was very informative and well attended. At the meeting Cassidy Ritz’s (City Planning) made a presentation about Bill 108, The presentation can be found by clicking on the links below.
Here is the link: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-133199.pdf
Have your voice heard!
Residents are highly encouraged to write / send comments about Bill 108. *** Send your feedback by the June 1st deadline.
Send your comments on Bill 108 through the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO). The deadline for comments is Saturday, June 1, 2019. Please see below for the links to the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
For more information about Bill 108, please click here to visit the City of Toronto website.
Click here to read Gregg Lintern’s letter regarding Bill 108.
The Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) is set up to accept separate comments for different pieces of legislation that are proposed to be amended.
Click here for comments re. the Planning Act.
Click here for comments re. the Development Charges Act..
Click here to make comments on the proposed changes to the Ontario Heritage Act.
You may also contact:
Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Hon. Steve Clark
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
College Park 17th Flr, 777 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5G 2E5
416-585-7000
minister.mah@ontario.ca
or at:
steve.clark@pc.ola.org
Constituency office: Suite 101-100 Strowger Blvd., Brockville, ON K6V 5J9
Toll Free: 1-800-267-4408
Tel: 613-342-9522
Robin Martin, MPP Eglinton-Lawrence
robin.martin@pc.ola.org
Constituency office: 2882 Dufferin St., Toronto, ON M6B-3S6
Tel: 416-781-2395
Premier Doug Ford
premier@ontario.ca
Constituency office: 823 Albion Rd., Etobicoke, ON M9V 1A3
Tel: 416-745-2859