Frustration in London after province fast tracks controversial housing bill
Just a week after council warned that the province’s housing plan would create a massive financial hole at London city hall — Bill 23 has been approved at Queen’s Park.
Hours after the provincial government’s decision, municipal politicians reiterated their concerns at a meeting of London’s Planning and Environment Committee.
“I know Bill 23 is top of mind, especially here at the planning committee,” said Coun. Anna Hopkins.
The Build More Homes Faster Act is intended to streamline the approval of new residential development across Ontario to address the housing crisis.
However, it also overrides several municipal planning powers and reduces the amount of development charges (DCs) paid to cities in order to expand services and infrastructure that support new growth.
The act also weakens environmental and heritage protections that some worry will lead to urban sprawl.
Last week, city council joined with other municipalities in Ontario calling for more time to comment on the changes and potential consequences.
“It’s really ignoring that municipalities of every size, across this province, are expressing serious reservations about this Bill 23,” Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis told CTV News London.
Civic administration has estimated that the changes to DCs will cost London $97 million over five years.
The primary financial costs would be:
- Phasing in development charges (DCs) over five years
- Growth related studies would be ineligible for DCs
- Lost opportunity to add "housing services" to DCs
Lewis suggests the DC changes put city council in a difficult financial situation.
“How we are going to pay for sustainable infrastructure growth and replacement without the development charges piece that the province is now changing on us?” he asked.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'