Doug Ford says he’s ‘proud’ of controversial MZOs to fast-track development
By Robert Benzie Toronto Star
An unrepentant Premier Doug Ford insists MZOs are A-OK.
After his government rammed through another six ministerial zoning orders (MZO) to fast-track local development, Ford said he’s “proud to announce that we have MZOs, because it’s about the economy.”
“Once we get through this (pandemic), people are going to be looking for jobs,” the premier said Tuesday, stressing the fast-growing Greater Toronto Area’s housing crunch also must be tackled.
“It’s no longer just that young people can’t afford housing, it’s everyone. We want more houses out there, more condominiums, more townhouses to make sure that people can afford it,” said Ford, lashing out at the New Democrats for opposing the Progressive Conservatives’ moves.
“There are 40,000 people moving in the GTA, fastest-growing region in North America. If it was up to them, they’d be living in mud huts right now,” he told the legislature.
“We will never stop issuing MZOs for the people of Ontario, the people that need housing.”
His comments came after the Conservatives quietly issued the orders Monday expediting development projects in Vaughan, Caledon, Clarington, New Tecumseth, and two in Markham.
The Tories have used the ministerial powers 43 times in three years in office — far more often than the previous Liberal government did over 15 years — to build housing, long-term-care homes, and hospitals.
Last week, after two bungled previous attempts, they proposed legislative amendments for a third time to give Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark additional zoning authority.
That was because government lawyers feared they would lose legal challenges from groups like Environmental Defence, which are fighting some MZOs in court.
“We don’t go into towns and all of a sudden just issue MZOs. It’s an ask from each region and each city, and I want more MZOs to stir the economy, to get jobs out there,” insisted Ford.
But Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence, said the flurry is “all about sprawl development” and “using the pandemic to hide granting favours to preferred developers.”
Gray conceded municipal councils do often request the province for the orders, but said that merely underscores the influence of developers on local politicians.
“In the city, it’s about density and in the countryside it’s all about gobbling up farmland,” he said.
Indeed, the MZO issued to build three condo towers on the provincially owned Dominion Wheel and Foundries Company on Eastern Avenue has triggered a standoff with the city of Toronto.
City council opposes tearing down the abandoned century-old factory, which was on Toronto’s heritage register as a historically significant building, and got a legal injunction stopping construction.
NDP MPP Catherine Fife (Waterloo) said the Conservatives are bypassing local planning officials in order to reward developers who donate to the party.
“An NDP analysis previously shows that at least 19 … of this government’s previous MZOs benefit PC party donors and insiders,” said Fife.
“Why is this government using MZOs to bulldoze wetlands and green spaces to let its buddies make more money?”
Fife noted that “municipalities have said that this decision-making process is being done under duress.”
That was a reference to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, which has lost much its power under the Tories, stating Friday it only allowed a developer to level Pickering wetlands “under duress” and “would ordinarily decline permission of such a permit.”
The development at the 22-hectare Duffins Creek Wetland, at Squires Beach Road and Bayly Street just south of Highway 401, was approved by an MZO.
It would allow the Durham Live project, run by developer Steve Apostolopoulos, managing partner for Triple Group of Companies, to build an entertainment complex and a warehouse.
Green Leader Mike Schreiner said the PC permits “are completely inexplicable and reckless.”
Liberal MPP Lucille Collard (Ottawa-Vanier) said “non-urgent projects were fast-tracked without the benefit of consultations regarding the impact on our environment.”
“We can all agree that in the crisis that we find ourselves in, there are some important decisions, swift decisions, that are required to address the dire needs that have been exposed,” said Collard.
“However, cutting both the public and experts out of the process is not in the interest of Ontarians when it comes to ensuring we make decisions that will not impact negatively the future of our children.”
Environmental Defence’s Gray said there is a groundswell of grassroots opposition to the provincial government’s “micromanagement of municipal planning.”
The environmentalist said Stratford residents’ successful fight against a controversial glass factory being built in the city was an encouraging sign.
So I read he is proud of bullying of those not in agreement with decisions, proud of favouritism to his developers and financial supporters, for his disregard of the future of his province and for his removal of our protections against destruction of our environment, against protection of our wildlife and forests.
He is proud of the fact that he encourages his developers to use what previously was a very seldom and emergency use of MZOs. County, townships, cities were trusted to manage their land and growth.
Bring back our protections of water, fisheries, forest, wetlands, farmland. I have never voted anything other than Provincial Conservative in 75 years but definitely I will change parties in the next provincial election – and it won’t be Liberal or NDP.
Glad to hear you won’t be voting PC anymore Holly.
Doug Ford is a nightmare and is destroying this beautiful province!