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Bill 185: The Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024 (Update)
Author : Stephanie Fleming Date : June 13, 2024 Please be advised that Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act received Royal Assent on June 6, 2024. Following our initial memo, dated April 10, 2024, certain changes were made to the Bill during Second Reading. We have provided a summary below of all the changes proposed by the Cutting Red Tape Act, including those amendments Read full article |
Bill 185: The Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : April 10, 2024
On April 10, 2024, Paul Calandra, the Minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing introduced Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act. This is an omnibus bill that proposes changes to multiple Acts, including the City of Toronto Act, 2006, the Development Charges Act, 1997, the Hazel McCallion Act (Peel Dissolution), 2023, the Municipal Act, 2001, and the Planning Act. I have summarized the proposed changes of these below... Read full article
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : April 10, 2024
On April 10, 2024, Paul Calandra, the Minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing introduced Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act. This is an omnibus bill that proposes changes to multiple Acts, including the City of Toronto Act, 2006, the Development Charges Act, 1997, the Hazel McCallion Act (Peel Dissolution), 2023, the Municipal Act, 2001, and the Planning Act. I have summarized the proposed changes of these below... Read full article
Bill 162 The "Get It Done" Act
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : March 2024
On February 20, 2024, Mr. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, the Minister of Transportation, introduced Bill 162, the Get It Done Act, 2024. This is an omnibus bill, proposing changes to a variety of acts, including the Environmental Assessment Act, the Highway Traffic Act, the Official Plan Adjustments Act, 2023, the Photo Card Act, 2008, the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024, and the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act. ... Read full article
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : March 2024
On February 20, 2024, Mr. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, the Minister of Transportation, introduced Bill 162, the Get It Done Act, 2024. This is an omnibus bill, proposing changes to a variety of acts, including the Environmental Assessment Act, the Highway Traffic Act, the Official Plan Adjustments Act, 2023, the Photo Card Act, 2008, the Protecting Against Carbon Taxes Act, 2024, and the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act. ... Read full article
Updates to the Conservation Authorities Act
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : March 2024
The Ontario government made several changes to the Conservation Authorities Act in 2020, to come into force on a date to be specified by the proclamation of the Lieutenant General. That date has been set for April 1, 2024. An accompanying regulation, O. Reg. 41/24, which sets out certain criteria for these revisions will also come into effect on this date. Read full article
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : March 2024
The Ontario government made several changes to the Conservation Authorities Act in 2020, to come into force on a date to be specified by the proclamation of the Lieutenant General. That date has been set for April 1, 2024. An accompanying regulation, O. Reg. 41/24, which sets out certain criteria for these revisions will also come into effect on this date. Read full article
Bill 136: Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : October 2023
On September 28, 2023, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mr. Paul Calandra, introduced Bill 134, the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023. It is currently in the second reading stage and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy for comment. Read full article
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : October 2023
On September 28, 2023, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mr. Paul Calandra, introduced Bill 134, the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023. It is currently in the second reading stage and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy for comment. Read full article
Bill 134: Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023
Changes to the meaning of “affordable housing” (in law)
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : Oct, 2023
On September 28, 2023, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mr. Paul Calandra,introduced Bill 134, the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023. It is currently in the second reading stage and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy for comment. Read full article
Changes to the meaning of “affordable housing” (in law)
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : Oct, 2023
On September 28, 2023, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mr. Paul Calandra,introduced Bill 134, the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023. It is currently in the second reading stage and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy for comment. Read full article
Bill 131: Transportation for the Future Act, 2023
Proposed Development Charges Changes
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : Nov, 2023
The Minister of Infrastructure, Ms. Kingma Surma, introduced Bill 131, Transportation for theFuture Act, 2023 on September 25, 2023. It has been through first and second reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy for consideration. Certain amendments have been made and it was sent for third reading on November, 2023. Read full article
Proposed Development Charges Changes
Author : Stephanie Fleming
Date : Nov, 2023
The Minister of Infrastructure, Ms. Kingma Surma, introduced Bill 131, Transportation for theFuture Act, 2023 on September 25, 2023. It has been through first and second reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy for consideration. Certain amendments have been made and it was sent for third reading on November, 2023. Read full article
City of Orillia Claims Victory in Ontario Court Of Appeal
Author : The Lawyer’s Daily
Date : May 17th, 2021
MLC Lawyer Stephanie Fleming was quoted in this recent article.
“Sometimes looking at an agreement as a whole is difficult because contracts can be hundreds and hundreds of pages, and when you look at certain parts, you think ‘this cancels out an earlier part.’ But when you look at it as a whole it gets clearer,” said Fleming. Read full article
Author : The Lawyer’s Daily
Date : May 17th, 2021
MLC Lawyer Stephanie Fleming was quoted in this recent article.
“Sometimes looking at an agreement as a whole is difficult because contracts can be hundreds and hundreds of pages, and when you look at certain parts, you think ‘this cancels out an earlier part.’ But when you look at it as a whole it gets clearer,” said Fleming. Read full article
Minister Leece and the Education Funding Formula
Author : Gord Petch
Date : June 20,2019
Dear Premier Ford:
Re: Minister Leece and the Education Funding Formula
As a life-long provincial and federal Tory I have been very pleased with most of your government’s decisions to date. There was a lot to do given the errors of the previous liberal governments. I am especially grateful for theproclamation of Bill 108 and look forward to the release of the relevant operative and transitional regulations… More…
Author : Gord Petch
Date : June 20,2019
Dear Premier Ford:
Re: Minister Leece and the Education Funding Formula
As a life-long provincial and federal Tory I have been very pleased with most of your government’s decisions to date. There was a lot to do given the errors of the previous liberal governments. I am especially grateful for theproclamation of Bill 108 and look forward to the release of the relevant operative and transitional regulations… More…
LPAT and the OMB, Follow up
Author : Gord Petch
Date : May 15th, 2019
On May 2, 2019 the provincial legislature gave first reading to Bill 108 which proposes dramatic changes to existing legislation in an effort to streamline the planning approval process, which in my view, has long been encumbered with many costly and unnecessary hurdles by previous liberal governments. It is important to keep in mind that the released legislation is only a draft and prior to third and final reading will receive further amendment as submissions from the public are received and the legislative committee does its work. Read more…
Author : Gord Petch
Date : May 15th, 2019
On May 2, 2019 the provincial legislature gave first reading to Bill 108 which proposes dramatic changes to existing legislation in an effort to streamline the planning approval process, which in my view, has long been encumbered with many costly and unnecessary hurdles by previous liberal governments. It is important to keep in mind that the released legislation is only a draft and prior to third and final reading will receive further amendment as submissions from the public are received and the legislative committee does its work. Read more…
Letter to Premier Ford re LPAT Legislation
Author ; Gord Petch
Date: May 3rd, 2019
Dear Premier Ford:
Thank you for the dramatic changes to the LPAT legislation. You and your Staff listened carefully and well understood the problems that required an immediate solution. Well done!
However, as I previously have corresponded to you, there is another immediate step that must be taken if your legislation is to be expertly and responsible implemented… Read more…
Author ; Gord Petch
Date: May 3rd, 2019
Dear Premier Ford:
Thank you for the dramatic changes to the LPAT legislation. You and your Staff listened carefully and well understood the problems that required an immediate solution. Well done!
However, as I previously have corresponded to you, there is another immediate step that must be taken if your legislation is to be expertly and responsible implemented… Read more…
The Amalgamation of Oakville
Author : Gord Petch
Date: April 23rd, 2019
The purpose of my submission is to address the possible amalgamation of the Town of Oakville with the Regional Municipality of Halton. On December 12,2018, Premier Ford announced that the province would conduct a review ofregional governments to find ways to “cut red tape and inefficiencies”. Minister Steve Clark dismissed the suggestion raised by the electorate that more amalgamations were in the works and advised that the review was:”about providing the best use of taxpayer dollars from our government. It’s about governance, better service delivery and about improving government at that level. That is what it is about.” What exactly is the government agenda? Read more…
Author : Gord Petch
Date: April 23rd, 2019
The purpose of my submission is to address the possible amalgamation of the Town of Oakville with the Regional Municipality of Halton. On December 12,2018, Premier Ford announced that the province would conduct a review ofregional governments to find ways to “cut red tape and inefficiencies”. Minister Steve Clark dismissed the suggestion raised by the electorate that more amalgamations were in the works and advised that the review was:”about providing the best use of taxpayer dollars from our government. It’s about governance, better service delivery and about improving government at that level. That is what it is about.” What exactly is the government agenda? Read more…
Advocates for Effective OMB Reform
Author : Gord Petch + 14 other Lawyers
Date : Jan 25th, 2019
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the Government’s Housing Supply Action Plan. Representatives of the Advocates for Effective OMB Reform (the “Advocates”) participated in a recent focus group discussion regarding the Planning Act and the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). These submissions are limited to recommendations for amendments to the Planning Act (and the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act, 2017) to assist the government in increasing the supply of housing in the province… for the full document click here
Author : Gord Petch + 14 other Lawyers
Date : Jan 25th, 2019
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the Government’s Housing Supply Action Plan. Representatives of the Advocates for Effective OMB Reform (the “Advocates”) participated in a recent focus group discussion regarding the Planning Act and the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). These submissions are limited to recommendations for amendments to the Planning Act (and the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act, 2017) to assist the government in increasing the supply of housing in the province… for the full document click here
Letter to Premier Ford re LPAT vs OMB
Author ; Gord Petch
Date : Jan 15th, 2019
Dear Premier Ford
Re: Local Planning Appeal Tribunal v. Ontario Municipal Board
This letter is further to my memo to you sent and dated January 15,2019 relating to the reductionin Housing costs, wherein I briefly referenced the Local Planning and Appeal Tribunal (LPAT)difficulties. I have long had strong views on the need to modify the OMB both administrativelyand legislatively, which I would like to highlight below. More…
Author ; Gord Petch
Date : Jan 15th, 2019
Dear Premier Ford
Re: Local Planning Appeal Tribunal v. Ontario Municipal Board
This letter is further to my memo to you sent and dated January 15,2019 relating to the reductionin Housing costs, wherein I briefly referenced the Local Planning and Appeal Tribunal (LPAT)difficulties. I have long had strong views on the need to modify the OMB both administrativelyand legislatively, which I would like to highlight below. More…
Reducing New Housing Costs
Author: Gord Petch
Date: Jan 15, 2019
Premier Ford has asked each Ontario municipality to provide submissions this month on suggestions as to how to reduce the costs for new housing. In my view this requires an examination of various elements of the planning approval process and the building inspector’s role of new home construction. The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list but a summary of the most obvious improvements. More…
Author: Gord Petch
Date: Jan 15, 2019
Premier Ford has asked each Ontario municipality to provide submissions this month on suggestions as to how to reduce the costs for new housing. In my view this requires an examination of various elements of the planning approval process and the building inspector’s role of new home construction. The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list but a summary of the most obvious improvements. More…
The New OMB Act
Authors : Gord Petch & Zaid A. Sayeed
Date : August 2017
The Ontario Government tabled Bill 139, titled “Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act” for first reading on May 30, 2017. The Bill contains several pieces of new legislation all allegedly for “Building Better Communities”. More...
Authors : Gord Petch & Zaid A. Sayeed
Date : August 2017
The Ontario Government tabled Bill 139, titled “Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act” for first reading on May 30, 2017. The Bill contains several pieces of new legislation all allegedly for “Building Better Communities”. More...
The Legality of Credit Valley Policy Manual Prohibition Policies on Development and Two-Zone Concept Development Permissions in Mississauga
Author : Gord Petch
Date : March 2012
This memorandum is intended to address the legality of Policy 7.5 g)i contained within the Credit Valley Conservation Authority Policy Manual dated April 2010. This policy specifically prohibits filling in the “flood fringe” area in a Two – Zone Concept if such is needed to meet the maximum permitted flood depth of 0.8 m or specified flood velocity levels. The problematic policy reads as follows More
Author : Gord Petch
Date : March 2012
This memorandum is intended to address the legality of Policy 7.5 g)i contained within the Credit Valley Conservation Authority Policy Manual dated April 2010. This policy specifically prohibits filling in the “flood fringe” area in a Two – Zone Concept if such is needed to meet the maximum permitted flood depth of 0.8 m or specified flood velocity levels. The problematic policy reads as follows More
Legality of MTO Policies & Guidelines
Author : Gord Petch
Date : March 2012
The purpose of the Memorandum is to consider the legality of MTO’s response to circulation of Planning Act applications, such as a rezoning application, requiring, for example a 24 metres acquisition for widening of the QEW and a further 14 metre building setback from MTO lands, presumably as a condition for their issuance of a land use permit pursuant to the Public Transportation and Highways Improvement Act R.S.O.1990, c.P.50 (“PTHIA”) and as a condition of the municipality approving the rezoning application . . .MORE
Author : Gord Petch
Date : March 2012
The purpose of the Memorandum is to consider the legality of MTO’s response to circulation of Planning Act applications, such as a rezoning application, requiring, for example a 24 metres acquisition for widening of the QEW and a further 14 metre building setback from MTO lands, presumably as a condition for their issuance of a land use permit pursuant to the Public Transportation and Highways Improvement Act R.S.O.1990, c.P.50 (“PTHIA”) and as a condition of the municipality approving the rezoning application . . .MORE
How We Can Fix Ontario's Crumbling Schools
Author : Gord Petch
Date : March 2012
Of all the duties that educational leaders and policy-makers have, ensuring that schools are safe is arguably the most important. But it looks like that is not happening in our city. Documents from the provincial government state that 56 per cent of schools in the Toronto District School Board are in “critical” or “poor” condition. And sometimes the consequences are dire. As reported by CTV news, a 6-year-old girl went to the bathroom at her Toronto school only to have the stall door collapse on her head . . .MORE
Author : Gord Petch
Date : March 2012
Of all the duties that educational leaders and policy-makers have, ensuring that schools are safe is arguably the most important. But it looks like that is not happening in our city. Documents from the provincial government state that 56 per cent of schools in the Toronto District School Board are in “critical” or “poor” condition. And sometimes the consequences are dire. As reported by CTV news, a 6-year-old girl went to the bathroom at her Toronto school only to have the stall door collapse on her head . . .MORE
The Failed Provincial Financial Legislative Scheme For The Toronto District School Board, In Particular, And All Other Provincially Funded School Boards
Author : Gord Petch
Date : July 2015
TDSB is Canada’s largest and most diverse school board serving more than 230,000 elementary and high school students and a further 160,000 continuing education students in almost 600 schools with approximately 40,000 teachers. More than 75 languages are spoken in the homes of TDSB students. To meet these challenges it is held back with many of its school buildings. . .MORE
Author : Gord Petch
Date : July 2015
TDSB is Canada’s largest and most diverse school board serving more than 230,000 elementary and high school students and a further 160,000 continuing education students in almost 600 schools with approximately 40,000 teachers. More than 75 languages are spoken in the homes of TDSB students. To meet these challenges it is held back with many of its school buildings. . .MORE
Curial Defence & The Ontario Municipal Board
Author : Gord Petch
Date : October 2009
For counsel appearing before the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal attempting to overturn the decisions of administrative tribunals, such as the Ontario Municipal Board (“OMB” or “Board”) the long established legal principle of “Curial Deference” poses a significant hurdle. Deference by the courts to administrative decisions is founded on the concept that the administrative tribunal has special expertise that the courts do not possess. MORE
Author : Gord Petch
Date : October 2009
For counsel appearing before the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal attempting to overturn the decisions of administrative tribunals, such as the Ontario Municipal Board (“OMB” or “Board”) the long established legal principle of “Curial Deference” poses a significant hurdle. Deference by the courts to administrative decisions is founded on the concept that the administrative tribunal has special expertise that the courts do not possess. MORE
Intruding The Right Of Way
Author : Gord Petch
Date : August 2011
These interesting sets of facts are particularly relevant to developers wanting to develop lands which are subject to a private right of way to an existing residence in the middle of the proposed subdivision. The owner of the right of way and existing home, whom we will refer to as “W” is willing to sell his lands to the developer, but only at a grossly inflated price. The developer “M” is concerned that it may have to accede to the excessive demand...MORE
Author : Gord Petch
Date : August 2011
These interesting sets of facts are particularly relevant to developers wanting to develop lands which are subject to a private right of way to an existing residence in the middle of the proposed subdivision. The owner of the right of way and existing home, whom we will refer to as “W” is willing to sell his lands to the developer, but only at a grossly inflated price. The developer “M” is concerned that it may have to accede to the excessive demand...MORE
Tribunal, Courts & The Handling of Fresh Evidence
Author : Gord Petch
Date : April 2010
n 1091402 Ontario Limited v. The County of Simcoe and the Township of Oro-Medonte (Orsi) a developer applied to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) for amendments to the County and Township official plans of Simcoe and Oro-Medonte respectively. Both parties led evidence concerning a study that was pending very shortly (the Inter-Governmental Action Plan or IGAP), but was not yet available at the hearing. The study would have important implications for the settlement and growth strategies of the official plans. . .MORE
Author : Gord Petch
Date : April 2010
n 1091402 Ontario Limited v. The County of Simcoe and the Township of Oro-Medonte (Orsi) a developer applied to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) for amendments to the County and Township official plans of Simcoe and Oro-Medonte respectively. Both parties led evidence concerning a study that was pending very shortly (the Inter-Governmental Action Plan or IGAP), but was not yet available at the hearing. The study would have important implications for the settlement and growth strategies of the official plans. . .MORE
