Despite widespread opposition from municipalities, conservation authorities and affordable housing advocates, the Ontario government passed the controversial More Homes Built Faster Act on Monday.
Bill 23 restricts the planning authority of local governments, including limiting how much they can collect in development charges, a move the Association of Municipalities of Ontario says could leave them short $5 billion, a shortfall taxpayers would largely need to make up.
Saugeen Shores council have sent a letter to the province sharing their concerns with the bill and councillor Bud Halpin says they need to keep it up.
“I think it’s important to keep the pressure on the provincial government,” he said at their Nov. 28 meeting. “I think this government has been known to backtrack, has been known to change things, and I just think we just need to keep the pressure on them in all ways we can.”
The province is still accepting public feedback on its proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Act that would remove 7,400 acres from the protected land in an effort to build a 50,000 homes in the GTA.