Ministry of Municipal Affairs News Release: Ontario Passes Legislation to Build Better Communities and Conserve Watersheds

Ontario Passes Legislation to Build Better Communities and Conserve Watersheds

Ontario Overhauling the Land Use Planning Appeal System and Strengthening Conservation

December 12, 2017 12:20 P.M.

Today, Ontario passed legislation that will give communities a stronger voice in land use planning and better preserve our natural environment.

The Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017 will replace the Ontario Municipal Board with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, and help ensure that proceedings before the tribunal are faster, fairer and more affordable. The new legislation will also create the free Local Planning Appeal Support Centre, which will provide people across the province with information about the land use planning appeal process, legal and planning advice, and, in certain cases, may provide legal representation in proceedings before the tribunal.

The act will also modernize the Conservation Authorities Act, guiding the conservation of Ontario’s watersheds. The legislation clarifies the roles and responsibilities of conservation authorities and strengthens oversight and accountability. It also encourages increased public engagement by setting requirements for more public disclosure and for meetings to be open to the public. These changes will enable conservation authorities to have the flexibility to address growing environmental pressures such as climate change.

Improving the land use planning appeal system and preserving Ontario’s environment is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

QUOTES

” Our government is taking action to give residents and municipalities a greater say in how their communities develop. That’s why we introduced this legislation. These changes will help ensure that communities evolve and grow in ways that better reflect local concerns and priorities.”
– Bill Mauro
Minister of Municipal Affairs

” This legislation will help create a faster and more accessible process for appealing land-use planning decisions. Giving people a stronger voice in the planning of their own communities will help ensure cities and towns reflect the best interests of the people living in them today, as well as future generations.”
– Yasir Naqvi
Attorney General of Ontario

” Communities across Ontario benefit from the efforts of our conservation authorities. This legislation gives conservation authorities the tools and flexibility needed to address climate change, deliver exceptional services to communities, and protect people and property.”
– Kathryn McGarry
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry

QUICK FACTS

• The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal will replace the Ontario Municipal Board. It will be an independent tribunal making decisions at arms’ length from the government.
• In 2015-2016 (the most recent year for which data is available), the Ontario Municipal Board received 1,460 cases from across the province.
• Ontario has 36 conservation authorities, which are local organizations that manage and protect water and other natural resources.
• Ninety per cent of people in Ontario live in a watershed managed by a conservation authority.
• The Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act will come into force on a date named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

LEARN MORE

• Ontario’s changes to the land use planning appeal system backgrounder
• Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act 2017
• Conservation Authorities in Ontario
• Conservation Authorities Act

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