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Bill 108 Open Letter to Minister Steven Clark - Environmental Communication Options/Huff Strategy

Bill 108 Open Letter to Minister Steven Clark

May 31st, 2019 8:07 AM

BILL 108 OPEN LETTER 31 May 2019 Honorable Minister Steven Clark Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing 777 Bay Street, 17th Floor Toronto, ON M5G 2E5 Minister Clark, On behalf of the millions of Ontarians that we represent as municipal governments, housing advocates, and environmental leaders, we are writing to request that your government provide additional time to consider Bill 108. We are ready to work with you to ensure that the legislation’s intent of delivering more affordable housing is achieved. We believe that our common goal of delivering suitable homes that are within the means of all families can be met without compromising the livability of our communities. Ontarians are telling us that they have significant concerns that their quality of life will be negatively impacted if the More Homes, More Choices Act proceeds as planned. The provisions in Bill 108 would limit the ability of municipal governments to plan for, and provide amenities for the people we all serve. Our residents expect their neighbourhoods consist of more than just a grouping of homes. Parks, daycares, and recreation centres are not nice-to-haves but necessary building blocks of a thriving community. Residents are also concerned about losing Ontario’s natural heritage if Schedules 2, 5, and 6 of the Act is passed. Bill 108 threatens conservation areas, wetlands, and the plants and animals that call them home, particularly endangered species. Ontarians value and cherish their natural areas, and will not accept losing them to sprawling subdivisions when better options are available. Thirty days is too short a timeline for our residents to properly assess, and make meaningful contributions, to legislation that proposes significant changes to 15 separate Acts. Further, since much of Bill 108 is enabling legislation for regulations that have yet to be released, we are commenting blind in regards to critical aspects of the Act. Our constituents expect us to take the time this issue deserves to ensure we get it right. We therefore request that you extend the comment period from June 1st to September 1st, and release draft regulations in that period, to provide an opportunity for meaningful consultation before moving ahead with Bill 108. Sincerely, Municipal Representatives Mayor Rob Burton - Oakville Mayor Tom Mrakas - Aurora Mayor Marianne Meed Ward - Aurora Mayor Rick Bonnette - Halton Hills Mayor Sandy Brown - Orangeville Mayor John Taylor - Newmarket Councillor Josh Matlow - Toronto Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam - Toronto Councillor Jennifer McKelvie - Toronto Councillor Gord Perks - Toronto Councillor Jaye Robinson - Toronto Councillor Paula Fletcher - Toronto Councillor Mike Colle - Toronto Councillor Mike Layton - Toronto Councillor Brad Bradford - Toronto Councillor Paul Ainslie - Toronto Councillor Grant Peters - Orangeville Councillor Robert Kiley - Kingston Councillor Sean O'Meara - Oakville Councillor Tom Adams - Oakville Councillor Cathy Duddeck - Oakville Councillor Phil Allt - Guelph Councillor James Gordon - Guelph Councillor Reid McAlpine - Markham Councillor Karen Rea - Markham Councillor Wendy Farrow-Reed - Halton Hills Councillor Ted Brown - Halton Hills Councillor Moya Johnson - Halton Hills Councillor Jane Fogal - Halton Hills Deputy Mayor Barry Ward - Barrie Councillor Keenan Alwyn - Barrie Councillor Natalie Harris - Barrie Councillor Jim Harris - Barrie Councillor John Gallo - Aurora Councillor Sandra Humfryes - Aurora Councillor Rachil Gilliand - Aurora Councillor Harold Kim - Aurora Councillor Michael Thompson - Aurora Councillor Christina Bisanz - Newmarket Councillor Martin Medeiros - Brampton Councillor Rory - Nisan Burlington Clare Cameron - Niagara-On-The-Lake Deb Doherty - Collingwood Yvonne Hamlin - Collingwood Councillor Tony Carella - Vaughan Councillor Alan Shefman - Vaughan Councillor Peter Frost - Township of Archipelago Environmental Advocates Dianne Saxe - Former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Gord Miller - Former Environmental Commissioner of Ontario David Suzuki Foundation Earthroots Environmental Defence Ontario River Alliance Animal Alliance Born Free Ontario Nature Ontario Headwaters Institute Park People Wilderness Conservation Society Wildlands League Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Ottawa Valley Save the Oak Ridges Moraine Wellington Water Watchers Coyote Watch Canada Vicki Friesen - Professor of Biology, Queen's Housing Advocates ACORN Canada Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario Akelius Tenants Network Build a Better Bloor Dufferin Castle Frank Road Tenants Association Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic Emily Paradis PhD, Housing and Homelessness -Researcher, UofT Fairbnb Federation of Metro Tenants Associations Graydon Hall Tenants' Association Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal Services Park Vista Tenants' Association Sistering St Claire's Multifaith Housing Society Spadina Gardens Tenants' Association Toronto - St. Paul's Tenant Associations Network Wellesley Institute