Owen Sound City Hall. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting)
Owen Sound will be sending a letter to the Premier expressing concerns about the consultation process with municipalities — or lack thereof — for Bill 23.
A motion introduced by Coun. Jon Farmer passed at Monday’s meeting to have the mayor to send a letter on behalf of council to Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, expressing concern with the short consultation period for the More Homes Built Faster Act and resulting difficulty of newly elected councils to participate in consultation.
“The issues with the bill itself have been exhaustively described many municipalities, by AMO, by conservation authorities. I wanted to flag specifically the issue with the consultation period, given that for most municipalities in Ontario the incoming councils would not have had their first meeting, would not have had an opportunity to provide meaningful input,” Farmer says. “I think collaboration between levels of government is really important. And that meaningful collaboration can only happen when there is actually an opportunity for dialogue and for input, and for consideration of what other folks need or think. And we didn’t see that this time.”
Bill 23 was introduced by Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government on Oct. 25 — one day after the 2022 municipal and school board elections. The commenting deadline for municipalities was Nov. 24 and the legislation received Royal Assent on Nov. 28.
Owen Sound council’s inaugural meeting to start the new term was on Nov. 21 — just three days prior to the commenting deadline. Many other municipalities in Bruce and Grey counties were left in a similar position with new councils given little to no time to review and comment on Bill 23, with the deadline in such close proximity to the municipal election.
Coun. Travis Dodd: “Think of how tight of a timeline that was considering we had a municipal election at the end of October and then trying to get together to provide feedback on Bill 23, is actually ridiculous for the timing it allowed for.”
Owen Sound’s Director of Community Services Pam Coulter provided council a brief overview during Monday’s meeting of some of the aspects of Bill 23 of most concern to the city.
Coulter says site plan control will no longer apply on developments of 10 units or less. The city will no longer be able to have any control on architectural design or landscaping.
She adds Bill 23 has separated the ability of conservation authorities to comment on natural heritage, but they can still partner with municipalities and comment on natural hazards.
“Historically, we’ve done this with a memorandum of understanding with conservation authorities, which are now not permitted under new legislation,” Coulter explains. “The city of Owen Sound, other Grey County communities, we’re not large enough to have these services in-house. We’ve relied on excellent partnerships historically with (Grey Sauble Conservation Authority). And that’s really an unfortunate change.”
Coulter called legislative changes concerning additional residential units — which would permit up to three residential units per lot, with no minimum sizes — the “one bright light” in Bill 23.
“I shouldn’t say only, but it is a great change,” Coulter says, noting the city is working to implement ARUs in its zoning bylaw.
The Grey Sauble Conservation Authority also sent a letter to the Premier and some of his ministers recently outlining its concerns about the legislative changes in Bill 23. Grey Sauble’s letter says the More Homes Built Faster Act could result in increased financial and administrative burden to municipalities, and could cause timeline delays for developments and even potentially increase costs.