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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ne 20 ,2 01 9 | 14 YD.COM | 905-842-6846 CONFIDENT TO Confident to drive. Our unique Collisionfree!™Approach empowers you with the skills you need to take the driver's seat confidently. Sweeping provincial legislation is upon the re- gion and the mayor's have a few thoughts. Bill 108 the More Homes, More Choice Act 2019 was passed by the Ontario gov- ernment of Premier Doug Ford on June 6. Described by the provincial govern- ments as its plan to tackle Ontario's housing crisis, the bill includes extensive legislative, policy and reg- ulatory changes across multiple ministries. Municipal leaders spe- cifically took issue with the changes to development charges and the return of a new body that will handle the appeals process around development disputes. has The complete bill has legis- lation over 13 different acts including the Endangered Species Act, Ontario Heri- tage Act, Cannabis Control Act, Development Charges Act, Environmental As- sessment Act, Planning Act and the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act Rob Burton - Mayor of Oakville Oakville's Mayor Rob Burton summarized the bill as reducing local plan- ning authourity. "Planning is being turned over to the [Local Planning Appeal Tribunal] whatever we say that an ap- plicant doesn't like they can go to LPAT and say I don't care whether it con- forms to the local official plan I've got a better idea and in the name of better ideas so much for local planning," said Burton. He also took issue with the speed it was rolled out. "The bill came out of no- where with no consulta- tion and I am willing to ex- pect the regulations will descend upon us similar- ly," said Burton. Gordon Krantz - Mayor of Milton Milton's Mayor Gordon Krantz is less opposed to Bill 108. "There's good things in there and bad things in there that negatively im- pact on a community but keeping in mind I think the only reason the province is doing this of course the province is bankrupt and they have to do something to get their house in order with regards to the eco- nomics of the province. I'm fully supportive of that, but not on the backs of the property tax base at local municipalities Milton recently passed a motion opposing the bill. Marianne Meed Ward - Mayor of Burlington Burlington's Mayor Marianne Meed Ward swiftly denounced what the Bill would mean for her community. "Bill 108 will have a dev- astating impact on munici- pal finances and local land use planning control," said Meed Ward. "Changes to development charges will mean growth will pay even less of the cost of growth, leaving taxpayers to make up the difference. This will unnecessarily add costs at a time when local govern- ments are being asked to find savings." Rick Bonnette - Mayor Halton Hills Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette said the Bill show municipal leaders were not listed to. "Municipalities have al- ways encouraged that new growth should be paid for by developers not on the backs of existing taxpay- ers. This Bill will mean new growth will pay even less of its true costs and you, the existing taxpayer, will have to make up the difference," said Bonnette. Bill 108 will have nega- tive impacts on municipal finances and local plan- ning. It's going to be an in- teresting fall as we watch the trickle-down effect of this legislation NEWS HALTON'S MAYORS SOUND IN ON FORD'S BILL 108 ROLAND CILLIERS rcilliers@metroland.com The mayors of Burlington Marianne Meed Ward, Rick Bonnette of Halton Hills, Rob Burton of Oakville and Gordon Krantz of Milton have a few mostly negative thoughts on the province's new Bill 108. Roland Cilliers / Torstar "THE BILL CAME OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO CONSULTATION."