Bill 23
Niall Lobley has worked in parks for more than 25 years in both Scotland and for the past 11 years, in Ontario. Now the Director of Community Services at the Township of Georgian Bluffs, Niall has also been the Director of Parks and Cemeteries for the City of Kitchener, and the Land and Property Manager at Conservation Halton. In his article, Niall provides a personal view of Bill 23 and draws attention to the key elements of change this brings about for parks. I am confident that you have, by now, read, heard about and been in discussions around the impacts of Bill 23 – now enacted as a series of legislative changes to multiple existing pieces of legislation – on the municipal and development landscape of Ontario. If you missed it … Bill 23 was a tabled immediately after the municipal elections in October and proposed a number of sweeping changes to the Planning Act, the consolidation of the Planning Policy Statement (PPS) and Growth Plan into a new single document, changes to traditional two tier planning processes for many of the larger two tiered municipalities in the Golden Horseshoe, and significant changes to the Conservation Authorities Act. Associated to this, two additional Bills were tabled around the same time, that proposed changes to the Regulations of the Strong Mayor powers in Ontario, extending these to many larger municipalities and changes to the Greenbelt. While these are not part of Bill 23, these changes should be considered alongside the overall impact of Bill 23. Bill 23 was tabled as the next step in the Governments mandate to review development processes to cut red tape and to enhance the speed with which development can occur. Through successive changes in both the past and current term of the provincial legislature, the
Planning Act, Conservation Authorities Act and others, have already been changed – many of the previously announced changes only recently, or in many cases, not yet, having taken effect. Bill 23 rapidly moved through legislative process, with second and third readings being completed before public and stakeholder commenting windows were closed, and the Bill received Royal Ascent in late November, with many of the changes to legislation taking effect immediately. professionals, who are deeply embedded in community, are supportive of work to secure more housing, and, that the focus on housing supply should be on making it affordable and attainable. I suspect that, like me, you will have encountered the stark realities of the crisis in affordability of shelter and housing brings – parks across Ontario and Canada are relied on as part of the support for folks seeking shelter with parks playing a central part in many communities I suspect that, regardless of political persuasion or views of the changes heralded by Bill 23, all Parks challenges with the unsheltered community with encampments being increasingly commonplace in parks and open spaces. In considering the changes included with Bill 23, while bearing the very acute and real need for housing, we must also consider the need to build community that is liveable, both today, and in 25 years, 50 years and 100 years time, when the decisions of today, will impact the communities of tomorrow. We should also hold government accountable as to whether these changes will make an impact and provide the most affordable and attainable housing that is so much needed. There are several key changes that Bill 23 brings about that I believe are impactful to future community building and parks:
…/28
Page 27
Ontario Parks Association
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online