** This post updated Dec. 14 with additional analysis and links **
Introduced October 25, 2022, Bill 23 is a Province of Ontario omnibus bill that aims to amend 10 pieces of legislation (Conservation Authorities Act, Development Charges Act, etc.) and 6 sets of regulations (Land Tribunal, Building Code, etc.) It also proposes to review the Provincial Policy Statement and the Growth Plan. You can see the government’s announcement and media Q&A here.
The government also announced on November 4, 2022 a proposal to modify the Greenbelt with ‘land swaps’ to permit development in some currently protected areas. And Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark has been approving Official Plans with modifications that increase municipalities’ Urban Boundaries beyond the limits approved by local governments. The Region of Waterloo Official Plan Amendment passed by Regional Council on August 18th 2022, is now posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) for comments until Jan. 4, 2023. The entry is 019-5952.
Update on Dec 1, 2022: Bill 23 was passed by the legislature on Nov. 28th and received Royal Assent. This summary by Osler Law Firm discusses when the changes take effect.
Actions
Submit comments via the Environmental Registry of Ontario until December 9th (deadline extended from November 24), 2022. (Click on each individual Environmental Registry of Ontario Posting that you wish to comment on).
Contact information for Elected Representatives
Future Majority phone tool
Please click on each title below to view the content.
Petitions
ACORN Canada petition
The Atmospheric Fund letter
Change.org “Stop Urban Sprawl in the Ontario Greenbelt” petition
Change.org “Stop the attack on heritage” petition
David Suzuki Foundation petition
Environmental Defence petition
Hold The Line Waterloo Region letter
Lead Now Canada ‘Stop Bill 23: Protect the Greenbelt and Build Real Affordable Housing’ petition
Ontario Nature petition
Ontario for All petition
The Ontario Headwaters Institute petition
Reform Gravel Mining Coalition petition (and letter)
Social Development Centre Waterloo Region letter
Toronto Environmental Alliance letter (and post)
Wellington Water Watchers petition
Wilderness Committee and Save Ontario Wetlands letter
Analysis and Statements on Bill 23
Government Information on Bill 23
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing announcement and media Q&A
Original Bill 23 Proposed Legislation (html version) or (pdf version)
More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 Backgrounder
Consultations on More Homes Built Faster: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan 2022-2023 (ERO)
Legislative and regulatory proposals affecting conservation authorities to support the Housing Supply Action Plan 3.0 (ERO)
Proposed updates to the regulation of development for the protection of people and property from natural hazards in Ontario (ERO)
Review of A Place to Grow and Provincial Policy Statement (ERO)
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy Hearings Transcript Nov 9, 2022
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy Hearings Transcript Nov 10, 2022
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy Hearings Transcript Nov 16, 2022
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy Bill 23 Hearings Agenda Thursday Nov 17, 2022 (transcript not yet available)
Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy Bill 23 Hearings Agenda Monday Nov 21, 2022 and proposed amendments to the bill (transcript not yet available)
List of All Environmental Registry (ERO) Postings regarding Bill 23
(This content is modified from this Environmental Registry listing)
Environmental Registry of Ontario Postings:
- Proposed Planning Act and City of Toronto Act Changes
- Proposed Planning Act and Development Charges Act Changes
- Proposed Ontario Heritage Act Changes
- Proposed Conservation Authorities Act and Regulatory Changes
- Proposed Natural Hazards Regulatory Changes
- Proposed Inclusionary Zoning Regulatory Changes
- Proposed Changes to Ontario Regulation 299/19: Additional Residential Units
- Proposed Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions
Regulatory Registry Postings:
- Proposed Municipal Act and City of Toronto Act Changes
- Proposed Ontario Land Tribunal Act Changes
- Proposed Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act Changes
- Proposed New Home Construction Licensing Act Regulatory Changes
- Proposed Building Code Regulatory Changes
The government is also undertaking a review of various housing and land use policies to identify and remove barriers to getting more homes built. We invite members of the public, municipal partners, and other stakeholders to share your thoughts and ideas on the following:
50×30 Waterloo Region
ABC Resident’s Association (Toronto)
Alliance to End Homlessness Ottawa
Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario
Against Bill 23 Coalition
Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO)
Architectural Conservancy Ontario Policy Committee Chair Dan Schneider
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)
Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) (and official submission to committee)
Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO)
The Atmospheric Fund letter
Town of Aurora and Mayor Mrakas
Birds Canada
Brampton Environmental Alliance Statement and Presentation to Committee
Bruce Trail Conservancy
Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD)
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) Letter
Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
Canadian Environmental Law Association (and signed letter) plus official submission and followup
Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment
Chiefs of Ontario and First Nations Response
Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF)
City of Burlington
City of St Catherines and Staff Report PBS-181-2022 (23 page report, rest is correspondence)
Conservation Ontario
Conservation Halton Board
Conservation Hamilton
Dawn Parker, Professor, School of Planning, University of Waterloo
Region of Durham
Eastern Ontario Conservation Authorities Joint Letter to Standing Committee
Ecology Ottawa and People’s Official Plan Coalition
Environmental Defence Statement and Webinar (and Jan. 2022 Housing Affordability Backgrounder) and post-Bill 23 Statement
Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations Open Letter in Resonse to Bill 23
Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL) and the Ontario Library Association (OLA)
Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods open letter in response to Bill 23
Future Majority
Grand River Environmental Network
City of Guelph
Hamilton 350
Ivey Building Sustainable Value Centre, Western University OpEd
Township of King Planning Staff Report (Report GMS-PL-2022-39) (York Region) (First 28 pages are report, remainder is text of Bill 23)
KPMB Architects Open Letter (w 17 others) to Premier Ford and Minister Clark
Law Firms Aird-Berlis, Bennett-Jones, Cassels, Davies-Howe Parts 1,2,3,4,5,6, Goodmans, Gowling WLG, McMillan, Osler (Pre-passing) and Post-passing summary, Overland
City of Missassauga
Municipal Finance Officers’ Association of Ontario (MFOA) Submission on Bill 23
New Democrat MPP Jessica Bell
Region of Niagara
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) ERO Comments
Oakville Staff Report
Ontario for All
Ontario Association of Architects (OAA)
Ontario Association of Heritage Professionals (OAHP) and Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP)
Ontario Association of Landscape Architects
Ontario Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Ontario Farmland Trust
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and official submission
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Ontario Greenbelt Alliance
Ontario Greens leader MPP Mike Schreiner
The Ontario Headwaters Institute
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Ontario Nature
Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Ontario Public Health Association Submission
Ontario Rivers Alliance Comments to the Standing Committee
Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) Statement of Oct 27 and Nov 16
Parks and Recreation Ontario
Reform Gravel Mining Coalition
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO)
Save Our Water
Shared Path Consultation Initiative
Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
Stop Sprawl Durham (Bill 23 post)
Stop Sprawl Halton
Stop Sprawl Hamilton
Sustain Ontario Alliance
The Land Between
Tom Galloway, outgoing Regional Councillor
Toronto Mayors David Crombie, Barbara Hall and John Sewell
Toronto Heritage Planning Staff Presentation “Proposed Amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act”
Toronto City Staff Comments on Proposed Bill 23 and Toronto Council Reports – 2023.CC1.2
City of Waterloo
Region of Waterloo Planning Staff Report (Report: PDL-CPL-22-27)
West End Home Builders Association
Region of York
Bill 23 In the Media
Frontburner: Why critics say Doug Ford’s housing plan is the wrong vision for a growing province (podcast) (Nov 28)
CTV: Controversial Bill 23 passed (video, Nov 28)
CBC: Ontario promises to make municipalities ‘whole’ if they can’t fund infrastructure due to new housing law (Nov. 30)
CityNewsKitchener: Local rallies planned to protest Bill 23 (Nov 30)
Ontario was already underfunding environmental protections it’s slashing | The Narwhal (Nov 30)
CBC: Window to restore relationship with municipalities ‘is closing’, say Big City Mayors (Dec. 2)
Green Majority Podcast Episode “Kill Bill 23” (Dec 2)
Regional councillor wants provincial housing legislation paused to measure negative impacts on municipalities | TheRecord.com (Dec 2)
CBC: Province not doing enough to prevent urban flooding, Ontario auditor general finds (Dec. 3)
Indigenous communities slam lack of consultation on Bill 23 | The Narwhal (Dec 3)
Demonstrations in 10 Ontario communities urge end to Bill 23 | The Star (Dec 4)
Region of Waterloo says provincial housing law will be a burden on the taxpayer | TheRecord.com (Dec 8)
TOStar: Doug Ford’s housing bill will make parks more crowded, Toronto and Mississauga warn (Dec 12)
Kitchener could need 10 per cent tax hike due to new housing law | TheRecord.com (Dec 13)
Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation says Ontario should repeal housing plan, leave Greenbelt alone | CBC News (Dec 13)
NiagaraNow: Opinion Arch-i-text: Big developments could be NOTL’s future if YOU don’t stand up (Dec 14)
ROP Reviews Information and Media
Region of Waterloo
Regional Municipality of Waterloo – Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan (ERO, Proposal, comments due by Jan. 4, 2023)
Hamilton
City of Hamilton ROP Review
City of Hamilton – Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan (ERO, Decision Nov 4)
CBC News: Province orders Hamilton to expand its urban boundary (Nov 5)
Hamilton MPP Donna Skelly says ‘fear tactics’ being used to fight urban boundary expansion (Nov 12)
Narwhal: ‘Appeals are not allowed’: defying residents’ choice, Doug Ford orders Hamilton to allow sprawl (Nov 12)
Halton Region
Regional Municipality of Halton – Approval to amend a municipality’s official plan (ERO, Decision Nov 4)
The IFP: “Totally unacceptable”: New bill proposes major urban expansion in Halton Hills (Nov 8)
Niagara Region
The Regional Municipality of Niagara – Approval of a municipality’s official plan (ERO, Decision Nov 4)
(more information coming soon)
Ottawa
City of Ottawa – Approval of a municipality’s official plan (ERO, Decision Nov 4)
‘The devil is in the details’ of updated official plan given back to Ottawa
Province approves Ottawa’s official plan with taller buildings, wider urban boundary
Peel Region
Regional Municipality of Peel – Approval of a municipality’s official plan (ERO, Decision Nov 4)
(more information coming soon)
York Region
Regional Municipality of York – Approval of a municipality’s official plan (ERO, Decision Nov 4)
PoliticsToday: ‘Reeks of a favour for a friend’: PCs make surprise change to York Region official plan that benefits Aurora developer
Motion by Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas (Nov 22)
Greenbelt Proposal Information and Media
Ontario Launches Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Greenbelt (Govt, Nov 4)
Proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Area boundary regulation (ERO, Comment Period Nov 4-Dec 4)
Environmental Defence Statement: The Ontario government’s proposed 7,400 acre giveaway to land speculators is a death sentence for the entire Greenbelt (Nov 4)
Environmental Defence Letter: Land swaps would be the death of the Greenbelt (Nov 4)
Ontario Greenbelt Alliance Statement regarding the Provincial Announcement to Remove Lands from the Greenbelt (Nov 7)
CBC News: The Ford government wants to open up the Greenbelt for housing. Here’s what it’s proposing (Nov 8)
CBC News: Ford government’s proposed changes to Greenbelt could spell trouble, environmental experts warn (Nov 9)
TheSpec: Spectator Editorial — Pushing back against Doug Ford’s heavy hand (Nov 9)
NationalObserver: Sacrificing Ontario’s scarce green space for sprawl a giant mistake (Nov 10)
CBC News: Who are the GTA developers set to benefit from Ford government’s Greenbelt land swap? (Nov 11)
CBC News: Ontario just got 14,000 hectares of land to develop — so why does Doug Ford want the Greenbelt too? (Nov 12)
Narwhal: Big Story Podcast Episode Why is Doug Ford slicing up Ontario’s Greenbelt? (Nov 14)
CBCRadio: Former urban planner is mystified the province is opening up the Greenbelt for development | The Morning Edition (Nov 14)
BrantfordExpositor: Conservation coalition says province’s Greenbelt plan doesn’t add up (Nov 14)
NFReview: Here’s what the province’s new development bill might mean for Niagara’s municipalities (Nov 14)
Star/Narwhal: Six developers bought Greenbelt land after Ford came to power. Now, they stand to profit (Nov 17)
TheSpec: Who owns the land in Hamilton’s endangered Greenbelt? (Nov 17)
MPP Jennifer French in Question Period asking about the Greenbelt (video) Part 1, Part 2 (Nov 17)
StCathStd: Political firestorm brewing over provincial changes to Niagara governance, Greenbelt protection (Nov 17)
Premier peddling ‘petty excuses’ about Greenbelt development: Schreiner (Nov 18)
From ‘car-dependent hellscapes’ to green cities, Canadians find new ways to fight climate change | CBC News (Nov 21)
CBC: Wealthy Ontario developer close to winning long battle to build homes on protected Greenbelt (Nov 22) includes radio interview
DurhamNews: “A smack in the face to the community”: environmental groups rally in Pickering against Greenbelt development (Nov 23)
CBC: NDP asks auditor general to investigate Ontario’s opening up of Greenbelt lands (Nov 25)
CBC: Prominent developer family linked to more Greenbelt properties slated for housing (Nov 25)
CBC/CP Does Ford’s Greenbelt plan break ethics rules? Ontario’s integrity commissioner asked to investigate (Nov 29) (includes video)
Calls for Greenbelt probes grow as PCs refuse to answer questions | The Narwhal (Nov 29)
Ontario was already underfunding environmental protections it’s slashing | The Narwhal (Nov 30)
Province’s Greenbelt plans could impact Town of Erin for several decades, says mayor (Nov 30)
CBC: Housing, a hospital or both? Councillors in GTA (King township) raise concerns about future of Greenbelt land (Dec. 2)
CBC: Province not doing enough to prevent urban flooding, Ontario auditor general finds (Dec. 3)
TheNational: Critics challenge Ontario’s greenbelt development plan (video, Dec. 4)
Demonstrations in 10 Ontario communities urge end to Bill 23 | The Star (Dec 4)
Opinion Doug Ford’s broken Greenbelt promise is only the tip of the iceberg | The Star (Dec 5)
Greenbelt Foundation Updated Statement on Proposed Changes to the Greenbelt (Dec 8)
Opinion Just how bad will the Tories’ Greenbelt woes get? | TVO Today (Dec 9)
Toronto.com: Opinion: Ford government will try and grab more Greenbelt land (Dec 12)
Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation says Ontario should repeal housing plan, leave Greenbelt alone | CBC News (Dec 13)
OPP should investigate Ontario government for leaking Greenbelt changes: Environmental Defence | insauga (Dec 14)
TheNarwhal: Here’s the dirt: how Doug Ford is shaping Ontario’s environmental laws in his second term (Dec 17)
Green Party Petition
Bill 39 (Regional Governments and Duffins Rouge Preserve Repeal)
Government Backgrounder, Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022 (Nov 16)
Proposed Bill 39: An Act to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Municipal Act, 2001 and to enact the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Repeal Act, 2022 (pdf) or (html)
Bill 39 Second Reading Debate Transcript (Nov 17)
Statements (selected)
Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasures of Ontario (AMCTO)
Bill 39: The Province’s Newest Addition to the Tool Belt for Combating the Housing Crisis – McMillan LLP
Canadian Environmental Law Association
Media
CBC: Ontario wants greater grip on regional governance, says it needs to cut red tape to battle housing crisis
CTV: Ontario gives itself authority to appoint regional chairs, gives mayors more power
TO Star: Doug Ford gives ‘strong mayors’ the ‘anti-democratic’ power to ram through bylaws with little council support
CBC: ‘A gross abuse of democracy’: Some Ottawa city councillors slam province’s bylaw plan
CBC-KW: Local mayors, regional chair react to Ontario plan to give regional chairs and mayors more power (Nov 18)
TheRecord: Opinion — Why is Premier Ford suggesting that municipal reform will lead to more housing in Waterloo Region? (Nov 18)
NFReview: ‘This goes beyond housing’: Latest moves on regional governance may be just the beginning, expert says (Nov 18)
TO Star: Opinion — Doug Ford has abandoned the people to put politicians first (Nov 18)
Doug Ford’s Tories accused of holding ‘secret conversations’ before controversial municipal governance changes | The Star (Nov 23)
Header image courtesy of 50×30 WR.
