Introduced April 10, 2024, Bill 185, the “Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024” is a Province of Ontario omnibus bill that aims, among its 15 Schedules, to amend the Planning Act, City of Toronto Act, Municipal Act, Development Charges Act, and some regulations. It also proposes to replace the Provincial Policy Statement and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe with a new policy named the “Provincial Planning Policy”.
You can see the government’s media release here.
Please click on each title below to view the content.
Actions
The public can submit comments via the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) by May 10, 2024. The comment period on the Provincial Planning Statement was extended to May 12, 2024. The overall posting is available here. Pertinent land-use related ERO consultations include
- Proposed Planning Act, City of Toronto Act, 2006, and Municipal Act, 2001 Changes (Schedules 4, 9, and 12)
- Proposed Changes to the Development Charges Act, 1997
- Proposed Changes to Regulations under the Planning Act and Development Charges Act, 1997
- Updated proposal on a Provincial Planning Statement (replacing the Provincial Policy Statement and Growth Plan)
- Removing Barriers for Additional Residential Units
Petitions and Group Letters
- Alliance for a Livable Ontario (ALO) letter
- Ontario Headwaters letter
- Reform Gravel Mining Coalition letter
- Rescue Lake Simcoe phone zap
- Water Watchers letter
- Waterloo Climate Collaborative letter
- Waterloo Climate Collaborative letter for organizations
Sample draft letter to the Minister from an individual household.
Analysis and Statements
Alliance for a Livable Ontario Analysis by Victor Doyle and Mark Reusser (video) and (presentation slides)
Association of Ontario Municipalities
MPP Jessica Bell
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario
Environmental Defence
–Ontario’s Bill 185 & New Provincial Planning Statement Pose a Serious Threat to Farmland, Wetlands, Habitats and Housing Options (May 6, 2024)
–Statement: Bill 185 and Proposed Provincial Planning Statement Would Unleash a Wave of “Greenfield Scandals” by Removing Tribunal Oversight of Sprawl Approvals (April 10, 24)
Hold The Line
Ontario Big City Mayors
Ontario Headwaters
Watson & Associates
Law Firms
Aird Berlis
David Donnelly Law
Dentons
Goodman’s
McMillan
Osler
Waterloo Region MPP Contact Information
Mike Harris Jr (PC) (Kitchener-Conestoga) Mike.Harris@pc.ola.org 519-669-2090
Brian Riddell (PC) (Cambridge) Brian.Riddell@pc.ola.org 519-650-2770
Jess Dixon (PC) (Kitchener South-Hespeler) Jess.Dixon@pc.ola.org 519-650-9413
Catherine Fife (NDP) (Waterloo) CFife-QP@ndp.on.ca 519-725-3477
Aislinn Clancy (Green) (Kitchener Centre) aclancy-qp@ola.org 519-579-5460
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Premier Doug Ford (PC) Premier@ontario.ca 416-325-1941
Paul Calandra (PC) Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing minister.mah@ontario.ca
Andrea Khanjin (PC) Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks minister.mecp@ontario.ca
All MPPs can be found at the Legislature website.
Please send suggested materials and links to Hal Jaeger at hzjaeger@gmail.com