Ontario Big City Mayors Ask Ford to Stop Cutting Development Fees | Daily News Byte

The mayors of Ontario’s largest cities are formally, and collectively, asking Premier Doug Ford to delay his plans to cut development charges across the province.

The Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM), an organization of 29 Ontario mayors of cities with a population of 100,000 or more, met on Friday December 2 to discuss the recently passed Bill 23 by the Ford government. Titled the More Homes Built Faster Act, the bill takes aim at municipal development approval processes, placing limits on development appeals, limiting consolidation zoning requirements, and reducing development charges collected by cities.

Under the new legislation, development charges will be waived for affordable, attainable, non-profit, and inclusionary zoning residential units, as well as any second and third units built on a residential property. New rental units will have their development charges reduced by a percentage based on the number of rooms the unit has. A one-bedroom unit, for example, will see its charges reduced by 15%, while a three-bedroom will see its charges reduced by 25%.

At their meeting, the OBCM passed a motion requesting that the province “immediately pause the implementation of the changes to the development charges act and parkland fee reductions in Bill 23 until the cities are consulted in finding solutions to effects of these changes on our communities. .”

It’s not the first time Ontario mayors have spoken out against proposed cuts. Toronto Mayor John Tory previously warned of a potential $2B loss for his city over the next decade due to Bill 23. And earlier this month, Mississauga Mayor and OBCM Chair Bonnie Crombie said the bill will inevitably result in higher property taxes when paid. -lost related income.

Ford has not weathered criticism from Ontario mayors, saying Wednesday they need to “get on board” and “stop whining.”

In the OBCM motion, the details of which were released Thursday, the mayors acknowledged that there are “parts of Bill 23 that will help build homes faster,” but the revenue cuts will “severely affect the ability of a municipality to build the infrastructure needed to support the creation of new homes including roads, sewer and water systems, and supports for the delivery of fire and police services, delaying the construction of new home.”

The motion also aims at the fact that the provincial government is placing more responsibility in accelerating housing development in the municipalities. It reminds the province that “It is the province’s responsibility to look into delays within their ministries, and the responsibility of developers and home builders to further coordinate the construction of homes in a timely manner when the Development approvals are already in place.” So far, OBCM said, the province has not determined accountability measures for all parties involved.