Bill 23: More housing but at what cost?

To the Editor:

Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, is just the latest example of the continuing drive by premier Doug Ford’s government to undermine environmental protections in the Province of Ontario.

Although presented as a vehicle to address affordable housing, it’s really about taking away local control of land use. Municipalities are losing local control of planning, giving developers the upper hand in decision-making over government and citizenry.

Ontario’s Housing Affordability Task Force, initiated by this government, when it reported to government in 2022, stated that “… a shortage of land isn’t the cause of the problem. Land is available. … Greenbelts and other environmentally-sensitive areas must be protected, and farms provide food and food security.” (p.10) Report of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force

Enhanced urban sprawl is the wrong way to go about addressing a housing shortage. It will cost Ontarians farmland, wetlands and forests, while burdening local governments with extra costs associated with expansions in infrastructure associated with building new subdivisions.

A better way to address the housing crisis is through smart planning: densification (build up rather than out).

Bill 23 is being fast-tracked and if it passes as currently written, there may no longer be greenbelt around urban development, and once lost, natural heritage cannot be regained. To learn more about the proposed changes and implications for Ontario, visit the Ontario Nature website, ontarionature.org, and read the blog, Bill 23 - What You Need to Know.

To voice your concerns, phone or E-mail your government representatives, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, at 519-396-3007 or lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org, and Ford at premier@ontario.ca, as soon as possible.

This government recently attempted to limit the rights of education workers and responded to pressure from the public by, subsequently, rescinding that legislation. In Bill 23, the government is using a similar playbook in trying to limit people’s ability to know, and right to know, about development, and respond to changes that may affect them.

Let’s put the same pressure on the province for the benefit of the environment, biodiversity, climate change and human safety. Contact Ford and Thompson and make your voice heard before it’s too late.

Since the Ford government took office, there has been a clear pattern to weaken environmental protections across the province; bill after bill, year after year. Politicians do this in the hope that the public won’t notice. It’s time we took notice and tell them it’s not acceptable.

Christine and Jim Roberts, Blair’s Grove
Sylvia Berg, Kincardine