"But when it comes to the planning act, the omnibus bill would make it so the minister's planning decisions no longer have to conform to the provincial land-use planning statement."
"What this does is basically bypass this co-ordination, the significant expansion of ministerial discretion now is going to reduce the role, the autonomy and the policy tools of municipalities, said Luisa Sotomayor, director of planning at the University of Toronto's department of geography and planning."
"So let's say near GO stations or transit corridors and surplus government properties, development could be approved with no requirement for public consultation, she said"
Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, would amend the provincial planning act to consolidate planning power under the minister of housing and remove the requirement that ministerial planning decisions conform to the provincial land-use planning statement. The provincial land-use planning statement currently guides municipalities on housing mixes and environmental protection. The change expands ministerial discretion, diminishes municipal autonomy and reduces municipal policy tools, potentially undermining long-term protections for employment areas and environmentally sensitive lands. The proposal raises concerns about effects on the residential tenancies framework and the possibility of approving development on provincial lands without public consultation.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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