Oakville has concerns with province’s draft Bill 108 regulations

Not enough information to provide comprehensive comments; the commenting periods have been too short; and, it still remains unclear how Bill 108 will deliver more affordable housing and ensure that growth will pay for growth. These are the overarching comments the Town of Oakville has shared with the province regarding a recently released set of proposed regulations related to Bill 108 – the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019.

“In May, when the town’s comments and concerns on Bill 108 were forwarded to the province, we requested more consultation before the province took any further steps,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “Despite the serious concerns raised by municipalities and citizens across Ontario, on June 6, the Provincial Legislature passed Bill 108 into law.”

“Once again, the province is not listening to municipalities and has even adjourned the Provincial Legislature’s summer break to almost five months. The timeframe for the review of these proposed regulations, coupled with the lack of detail or consultation, completely undermines our ability to conduct a comprehensive analysis of their impact on the town’s financial position and our Official Plan, and our ability to protect the character of our existing neighbourhoods,” Mayor Burton concluded.

On June 21, the province posted four proposals seeking comments on draft regulations related to Bill 108 including the forthcoming Community Benefits Charge, and transition matters related to changes to the Planning Act, the Development Charges Act and the LPAT Act. Last night, Council endorsed a staff report outlining the town’s position on the proposed regulations, and directed staff to submit it to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Bill 108 will have a serious impact on the Town of Oakville. It will change the financial tools available to the town to fund parks, libraries, recreation centres and other community infrastructure. It will also change where the town can require new affordable housing, how heritage buildings are conserved and how development applications are reviewed by the town and at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). These changes could result in reduced service levels or a property tax increase for Oakville residents.

The following are highlights of the town’s concerns with the proposed new regulations and regulation changes:

Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019, is a result of the province’s interest in increasing housing supply in Ontario. It received Royal Assent (became law) on June 6, 2019 and will amend 13 different statutes, significantly impacting municipal land use and financial planning. The changes that Bill 108 makes to the Development Charges Act, Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) Act, Planning Act and Ontario Heritage Act, among others, will come into force by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor as the related regulations are finalized.