Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The Ford Government’s Bill 23 More Homes Build Faster Act is a disaster.

Bill 23 opens Ontario’s Greenbelt land to urban development. This is ecologically sensitive, protected land around the Greater Toronto Area impacting ten municipalities.

It changes the mandates of conservation authorities and cuts municipal provisions for heritage protection and rental replacement standards.

The controversial Bill 23 will cut development fees for new home-building projects which will have to be picked up by municipalities resulting in higher property taxes.

Bill 23 is a gift for developers looking for fewer restrictions to build luxury homes or large homes that sprawl beyond urban boundaries. The overall result is that this legislation will not improve Ontario’s cities, will not build affordable housing or create the missing middle homes we need. Furthermore, it helps large corporate landlords push out low-income tenants.

The Ford Government has now introduced Bill 39 on November 16 which allows the “Strong Mayors” of Toronto and Ottawa to pass motions on housing issues with only a third of the city councillors. This is appalling and smacks of dictatorship. Our democracy is based on majority rule.

To address the housing affordability crisis, we need a comprehensive housing plan that establishes a strong public role in the funding, delivery, acquisition, and protection of an adequate supply of affordable homes. The plan should protect tenants from rent gouging and displacement. The new housing should be within existing urban boundaries and the Provincial Government should protect irreplaceable farmland, wetlands and the Greenbelt.

I hope that the Ford Government will listen to the widespread public opposition and withdraw Bill 23 as it is and the anti-democratic Bill 39. Ontarians deserve a housing plan for all and majority rule.

Brian Lynch,

435 York St.

Cornwall, ON.