Premier Ford is trying to change the law to silence MZO protests and bulldoze protected lands

One by one, the Provincial government has stripped away legal environmental protections to help sprawl developers. Now, in an omnibus Bill about broadband internet, Premier Ford has once again hidden a gift for his developer friends.

Schedule 3 of Bill 257 amends the Planning Act so that Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) – issued at the whim of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing with no public input – won’t even have to comply with Ontario’s most basic planning principles, unless they’re inside the limited bounds of the Greenbelt. Places such as provincially significant wetlands, watersheds and natural heritage sites which were protected, could be served up to sprawl developers whenever the Minister wishes.

Even worse, the change would be retroactive. If the government gets its way, no MZO would be open to a legal challenge, even if they violated the planning law at the time they were issued.

If the Province is willing to go this far to help sprawl developers, what part of Ontario’s protected land is safe?

We need to act. Call your MPP, or the Minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing, today to say NO to Schedule 3 of Bill 257!

Key talking points for your call:

  • Introduce yourself, and (if phoning your MPP) let them know that you are a constituent
  • Tell them that you are calling to oppose the changes to the Planning Act that the government has hidden in the Supporting Broadband and Infrastructure Expansion Act, Bill 257 which will override provincial planning law and allow development on protected land.
  • Tell them the changes only benefit developers, and allowing development on protected land will increase flood risks, destroy wildlife habitats and cause irreparable harm to the environment.
  • Explain why you care about protecting Ontario’s natural spaces such as forests and wetlands, and highlight any local areas of concern.
  • Thank them, and remember to leave your contact information and request they return your call. You will most likely just be leaving a message, so asking to speak to someone in person is very powerful.