WHEREAS hard-working Ontarians are facing a housing crisis and for many years, the province has not built enough housing to meet the needs of our growing population; while the affordability crisis began in our major cities, it has now spread to small towns and rural communities, such as East Ferris;
AND WHEREAS the long-term trend is clear: house prices are rising much faster than the incomes of Ontarians, including East Ferris residents;
AND WHEREAS, the time has come to act, in accordance with the report mandated by the province and entitled “Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force” and released in February, 2022;
AND WHEREAS the report concludes that:
- The balance has been tipped too far in favour of lengthy consultations, bureaucratic red tape and costly appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT);
- Lengthy and costly OLT hearings are a barrier to the development of affordable housing;
- The Tribunal currently faces a backlog of over 1,000 cases;
AND WHEREAS municipalities across the province such as Municipality of East Ferris collectively spend millions of dollars of taxpayer money and municipal resources developing Official Plans that meet current Provincial Planning Policy;
AND WHEREAS cities across the province are constantly forced to spend millions of dollars defending official plans that have already been approved by the province in costly, time-consuming and ultimately futile OLT hearings;
THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Municipality of East Ferris request that the Government of Ontario correct the OLT in accordance with the informed recommendations of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force;
AND THAT a copy of this motion be forwarded to the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leaders of the Liberal Party and the Green Party and all Members of Parliament in the Province of Ontario;
AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this motion be sent to AMO, ROMA and FONOM.