May 8, 2018 e-News Update from Etobicoke Lakeshore MPP Peter Milczyn

May 8, 2018 Long Branch Jane’s Walk led by MPP Peter Milczyn stops to admire Cottage Era house at corner of Long Branch Ave. and Muskoka Ave. Jaan Pill photo

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The following text is an excerpt from the beginning of MPP Peter Milczyn’s May 8, 2018 e-News Update:

Dear Neighbours,

As the 41st Parliament of the Province of Ontario winds down and we head into an election campaign I want to thank the people of Etobicoke-Lakeshore for the confidence you showed in me by sending me to Queen’s Park to be your voice.

It has been a great honour and privilege to be your representative. It has also been an extraordinary experience to serve on the Executive Council of Ontario as Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The past four years have been incredibly busy and productive. I am particularly proud of the work that I have been able to do specifically for the benefit of the residents of Etobicoke Lakeshore: funding for 150 new beds at Queensway Hospital, new Holy Trinity School, funding for a new St Leo’s School, funding for a new Holy Angels School, funding for a Norseman School addition, funding to reopen Castlebar School, expansion of Humber College Lakeshore campus, construction beginning on the Kipling Mobility Hub, funding for the Waterfront LRT, contract awards for refurbishing Long Branch and Mimico GO stations, and advancing a new Parklawn GO Station to the preliminary design phase.

MPP Peter Milczyn highlights recently designated, 200-year-old red oak Heritage Tree at corner of Park Blvd. and Long Branch Ave., during May 5, 2018 Long Branch Jane’s Walk. Jaan Pill photo

Much has been done and there is still much more to do, but I love the challenge and working with all of you.

Yours truly,

Peter Milczyn

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In a related email, MPP Peter Milczyn includes the following update:

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Update on Local Planning Appeal Tribunal

As of mid April, 2018 the transformational change to Planning and Land Use in Ontario has been in effect with the elimination of the Ontario Municipal Board and its replacement with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. This Tribunal is a true appeal Tribunal whose role is to adjudicate whether local planning decisions have followed Provincial Policy and the City’s own Official Plan. The LPAT is not meant to be a substitute decision maker for municipalities. Additionally with changes enacted to the Planning Act there are fewer grounds for appeal, more types of applications may not be appealed, and there are cooling off periods for certain types of applications which may not be appealed for specified periods of time.

While on a go forward basis new appeals will be heard under all the new rules and the LPAT, older appeals will still be heard by the OMB and under whatever rules were in effect at the time of the application being made.

Minor Variance and Severance applications are now only appealable to the Toronto Local Appeal Body, a City run Tribunal.

It has been brought to my attention that there may have been some misinformation about the changes to the Planning Act, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, and the planning process in general coming from the office of the Ward 5 Councillor. All of the changes have been implemented to strengthen the decision making role of the municipality and by extension the local community. The development industry is generally unhappy with the changes.

I welcome residents to contact me directly if they have questions or concerns about the changes to the Planning Act or the establishment of the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

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