The provincial government presented Bill 23 on October 25th and Conservation Authorities are coming together to battle the ‘More Homes Built Faster’ Act. St. Clair Conservation Authority in Strathroy is calling on the provincial government to re-consider and re-evaluate proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and Planning Act. The More Homes Built Faster Act would diminish the role of Conservation Authorities in the review of development applications, in a bid to increase the provincial housing supply. Ken Phillips, General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority tells myFM if the Bill passes, it’s a great concern for our area.
The Bill also affects Conservation Authorities ability to comment on local development and the affects it could have on the environment. They also wouldn’t be able to perform as much flood control and natural hazard reports. If Bill 23 were to pass, it would be a great loss of green space, wetlands, wooded lots and more in our area. Phillips says Conservation Authorities understand there is a need for housing, but it can be done in other ways.
The Bill proposes that Municipalities wouldn’t be able to enter into agreements with Conservation Authorities to review planning applications. That means decisions would be made with out the best possible knowledge and all of the work would fall onto Municipalities.
Bill 23 would prevent Conservation Authorities from providing reviews of natural hazards. Fewer checks and balances would be performed to insure that development would happen responsibly. This creates a risk to the environment and people.
Download of costs to Municipalities and tax payers is also a concern. The Province is proposing a freeze on user fees paid by developers. That goes against the User Pay Principal that has been in effect. This means more work and cost will go to Municipalities and local property tax payers. The Bill would reduce the amount developers pay through user fees and those fees will transfer to the local tax payer.
The Bill proposes that Conservation land could be used for urban housing. If the land is used, it takes away protection from flooding, erosion and could contaminate your drinking water sources.
The SCRCA encourages everyone to review Bill 23 and to give input about it. Public input closes on December 30th 2022.
To read about Bill 23 you can go here: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-43/session-1/bill-23
To learn more, or to provide input on the proposed changes, visit the Environmental Registry of Ontario for these Notices:
1. Proposed updates to the regulation of development for the protection of people and property from natural hazards in Ontario (https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2927) (ERO number 019-2927); and
2. Legislative and regulatory proposals affecting conservation authorities to support the Housing Supply Action Plan 3.0 (https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6141) (ERO number 019-6141).
The first page (ERO number 019-2927) includes a Consultation Guide on how to provide your input.
Visit Ontario’s Regulatory Registry for its document:
Focusing conservation authority development permits on the protection of people and property (https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=29166&language=en)
written by: K. Close
