Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Attention: Sylwia Przezdziecki
Re: PH12.7 City Comments on Proposed Bill 185 – Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, and New Minister Zoning Order Framework (Ward All)
Dear Mayor Olivia Chow and Members of Council,
This to advise that we are in strong support of the report’s Recommendations, as amended by the Planning and Housing Committee on May 9, 2024.
We note, approvingly, that the amended recommendations are in sync with the Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (FUN) presentation on Bill 185 to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
FUN, of which FoNTRA is a member, is an umbrella organization representing residents’ associations in urban centres across Ontario which are engaged in planning and development issues. FUN advocates for legislation and policies that not only protect but also empower all residents. As such, FUN strongly opposes the majority of the proposed legislation, (with the exception of certain Planning Act changes), especially the removal of residents’ right to appeal Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) decisions, which amounts to a serious loss of our democratic rights as citizens.
Yours truly,
Geoff Kettel
Co-Chair, FoNTRA
Cathie Macdonald
Co-Chair, FoNTRA
Photo: Alex Drainville via CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED