Photo: Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers in the Ontario Legislature on December 8, 2022.
The MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound acknowledges he’s heard the concerns of local conservation authorities and municipal governments over Bill 23, but defends the legislation saying changes were needed to get more homes built in Ontario.
Progressive Conservative MPP Rick Byers says the More Homes Built Faster Act and other legislation passed recently by the government is to address “a major problem” when it comes to housing.
Byers says the status quo is not working and the goal of Bill 23 is to advance the government’s target of building 1.5-million new homes in the province over the next 10 years.
“We need to increase the supply of homes to make them more accessible,” Byers says. “Particularly for our young generation and new Ontarians, to make sure they have the opportunity the rest of us have been able to enjoy.”
The Progressive Conservatives introduced the legislation on Oct. 25 — one day after the municipal election. It received Royal Assent just over a month later. Byers voted along party lines in favour of the bill.
Some local municipalities and conservation authorities have expressed concerns about legislative changes the Ford government enacted in Bill 23, and the consultation process the government undertook.
- Owen Sound To Send Letter To Premier Expressing Bill 23 Consultation Concerns
- Grey Sauble Conservation Writes To Premier About Bill 23
Owen Sound council recently resolved to send a letter to the Premier expressing concern about the short consultation period for the More Homes Built Faster Act. Speaking to that, Byers says “we had to get things moving and the timing of elections and what not, I understand there was a 30-day consultation period.”
“The process of discussion doesn’t stop when a bill gets passed. But the challenge is we had to get this process started,” the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP says. “I look at this as the start of a process, not the end. And we’ll be looking at the outcomes and make sure we get those homes built that are badly needed.”
Bill 23 made many changes to both municipal oversight and the role of conservation authorities in residential development. Among them: Site plan control will no longer apply on developments of 10 units or less. Municipalities also have less authority now to exert control on architectural design or landscaping of developments.
On the design control changes, Byers agrees local communities should have a say about what their local communities look like, but says “at the same time we need to get homes built so there’s that trade off.”
“I’m confident we’ll find the right balance to make sure there’s the appropriate consideration in various areas, but not at the expense of holding things up forever,” Byers explains. “There’s a balance here that wasn’t working in the past broadly. That’s been the thrust of Bill 23 … I’ll be in touch with municipal partners to hear their views going forward as things move along.”
The More Homes Built Faster Act has also separated the ability of conservation authorities to comment on natural heritage, but they can still partner with municipalities to comment on natural hazards.
The Grey Sauble Conservation Authority recently sent a letter to Ford and relevant ministers sharing its concerns with some of the new legislative changes.
In it, the conservation authority acknowledges the housing supply and affordability issue in Ontario, but says addressing it should be done in a practical way. It claims the changes in Bill 23 could result in increased financial and administrative burden to municipalities, and potentially delay development timelines.
Byers says he met directly with the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and understands their perspective.
“They’re saying ‘look, some of the things you’re asking municipalities to do, especially in rural communities … do they have the expertise? Are they able to do it? It may take longer,'” Byers recalls. “I get that. And I passed those views on to the appropriate minister.”
“I see this as a great example like I said as the process going forward being a start,” continues Byers. “I hear that concern expressed. I’ll be working with them and municipalities going forward to make sure (Bill 23) is achieving the goals that it’s intended too.”
Byers also responded to a question about whether he thinks supply — and not excess demand from loose monetary policy — is the main underlying issue affecting housing affordability in Ontario. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, home prices in Ontario peaked in February 2022 and have fallen about 24 per cent since then as the Bank of Canada embarked on an aggressive interest rate hiking campaign to tame inflation.
Despite the falling prices, housing hasn’t necessarily become more accessible for many buyers as the cost of mortgage financing has rapidly increased with the rise in rates.
Byers, parliamentary assistance to Ontario’s Minister of Finance, says there’s been a long period of time — essentially dating back to the Great Recession in 2008 — where access to capital has been cheap, but at the same time he says the data supports the view there is a supply issue.
A 2021 report by Scotiabank says Canada has the lowest number of housing units per 1,000 residents among G7 countries. The amount of units per capita has been falling since 2016, due to a rise in population growth, the report says.
“That’s the driver here. Fundamentally to answer your question, yes. We need more supply,” Byers says.