Standing up Against Bill 23

As you may have heard, the draconian Ontario Bill 23 created by the Doug Ford Provincial Government, was passed by the Legislature.  I want all constituents to be aware of this dangerous bill which, among other things, decimates the Greenbelt that I helped to create as your Member of Provincial Parliament and severely reduces local planning authority and funding for affordable housing.
 
It is important that everyone in our Ward is aware of the effects that this Bill will have in the City of Toronto and across the entire Province.
Bill 23:               

  • Will create a shortfall of over $200-million dollars in lost development charge revenue for Toronto to fund the infrastructure and services needed to accommodate growth and instead remain in the pockets of developers.

  • According to a report by the City Manager, Bill 23 will amount to at least a 20% increase in property taxes and not guarantee a single unit of new affordable housing.

  • This pressure is in addition to the $815 million dollar deficit created by Covid-19. 

  • Removes 7400 acres of protected Greenbelt space and farm land from 15 areas in the province.

  • Guts the role of Conservation Authorities from conservation of green lands, oversight of watershed planning and management, coordinated flood protection, which are all core to reducing climate change.

  • Proposes to remove the City's Green Standards to new buildings, the key measure in how the City of Toronto seeks to achieve its 2040 net-zero goal.

  • Reduces Inclusionary Zoning to 5% which is counterproductive to creating more housing in Toronto while offering no protection for current supply of rental units.

  • Introduces new rules around protecting heritage buildings, including the option for the Provincial Government to overrule heritage protections in order to achieve Provincial priorities.

  • Handing the power of official plan amendments to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and thereby limiting tools available to municipalities to manage growth, a task that Councillors, like me, were elected to do.
     

 Bill 23 is simply not affordable!  Not for our City, not for the pocketbooks of families, not for people who desperately need affordable housing, and certainly not for the Greenbelt and our environment.
 
I'm urging you to join me in letting the Ford Government know that Bill 23 is not in the best interest of Ontarians, nor our environment, and DEMAND that the Bill be rescinded.  You can do this by calling or writing to Premier Ford and your local Member of Provincial Parliament and let them know where you stand on Bill 23:
 
Premier Ford
Phone: (416) 325-1941
Email: premier@ontario.ca
 
MPP Robin Martin (Eglinton—Lawrence)
Phone: (416) 781-2395
Email: robin.martin@pc.ola.org
 
**Be sure to include my office on any emails you send to Premier Ford and MPP Robin Martin, councillor_colle8@toronto.ca **