Ford government to reverse controversial urban boundary expansions
CBC
The Ontario government says it will reverse controversial expansions it made to the urban boundaries of some municipalities as part of its plan to build more homes.
Housing Minister Paul Calandra said Monday he would soon introduce legislation that will wind back provincial changes to the "official plans" of the following municipalities and regional municipalities:
Calandra said he has been reviewing past decisions of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to ensure they were made in a "manner that maintains and reinforces public trust."
He said "it is clear" the changes made to urban boundaries "failed to meet that test." Calandra added there was "too much involvement from the minister's office, too much involvement from individuals in the minister's office" in those decisions.
Some municipalities, including Hamilton, have said the boundary expansions were not needed to build housing. Calandra said the legislation will roll back the plans, so that only those plans submitted by the municipalities themselves before provincial changes were imposed remain.
Municipalities have 45 days to request any revisions to their original submissions. Calandra said the province will cover costs incurred by municipalities on work done in relation to the boundary expansions.
WATCH | Calandra explains decision to roll back boundary changes:
MPP Steve Clark was housing minister at the time the changes were introduced. He resigned from that post in the wake of two damning reports about his involvement in removing 15 parcels of land from the Greenbelt for development of 50,000 homes.
Earlier this month, Calandra introduced legislation to return those lands to the Greenbelt while also insulating the government from any legal action from developers affected by the move. Calandra said Monday that the pending legislation to reverse boundary changes would similarly include provisions to protect the government from legal consequences.
"This really is a reset for me as a minister to work with my municipal partners so that we can remain focused on working together," Calandra said.
The RCMP has launched a criminal investigation into the Greenbelt land swaps.
Calandra also said he has nearly completed an ongoing review of Ministerial Zoning Orders (MZOs) approved under Clark's tenure. MZOs effectively override local planning and bylaws, and Clark issued dozens of them during his time as minister. Ontario's auditor general is currently investigating the ministry's process for selecting and approving MZOs.
In a statement following the announcement, NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the province has "wasted a year trying to convince Ontarians that their nonsensical land use policies, tailor-made to benefit select land speculators, offers real solutions for everyday Ontarians.
"Minister Calandra's latest flip flop makes it abundantly clear; we have only scratched the surface of the damage this government has done."
The notion that home ownership guarantees financial security in old age is being challenged by a recent survey.
The family of Nash Prystie has identified him as the man who died in an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shooting earlier this month north of Kenora, and is calling for more and quicker help for people with mental health challenges.
Playoff action in the Ontario Hockey League gets underway Thursday night for Guelph and Friday in Kitchener.
UPEI wants its faculty to sign on to an updated version of its sexual assault and discrimination policy, but the union that represents the school's academic staff says it wants the policies to be part of its collective agreement.
In Texas this week for a global energy conference, the federal natural resources minister is proclaiming "Canada is back" and ready to bolster its energy sector and grow exports.
Members of Parliament last year went on the fewest sponsored international trips in the last 15 years, excluding the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ontario is running out of time to beef up rules that would crack down on negligent and misbehaving municipal politicians ahead of the next civic election, some experts and opposition critics warn.
Six London teens are each facing multiple charges following a break-and-enter spree at homes in the city's southwest end early Sunday, police said.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is putting the finishing touches on completing the Team Gushue Highway, but it means drivers might have to change their routes until later this summer.
Passage of the Nova Scotia government's budget bill stalled late Tuesday night when a group of singing protesters shut down the final vote to approve the budget.
Health Minister John Dornan said Woodstock-based eVisitNB will continue to provide virtual health-care services to New Brunswickers for another 90 days after March 31.
The head of Canada's largest airline has been summoned to Ottawa to explain why he spoke only in English when he offered his condolences to the families of those killed or hurt in the collision between a plane and a fire truck at a New York City airport on Sunday.
Manitoba is bucking a national trend by promising to slash its deficit, while boosting health care spending by nearly $1 billion and delivering modest affordability measures, including a PST cut that will save you money next time you buy a soda and bag of chips.