Protestors in Stratford decry Ford's new housing legislation
A demonstration was held in Stratford Friday as opposition to the Ford government’s Bill 23 continues to grow across the province.
Bill 23, the Build More Homes Faster Act, was announced last month as part of the government’s plan to tackle the housing crisis.
In Stratford, a crowd gathered outside the local MPP’s office. Demonstrators told CTV News, there are significant environmental concerns with the bill.
“The weakening of the cities, it’s just sinful what that’s going to do to our cities and what it’s going to do to our taxes – is terrifying,” said organizer Sharon Collingwood.
Critics of the province’s plan are calling it a pro-developer deal that will erode Ontario’s Greenbelt and contribute to urban sprawl that forces more financial burden on municipalities.
“[There will be] big reductions in the ability of the people, the elected officials, here in Stratford and in other cities to actually have any impact on how developers actually behave. It’s going to cause a big jump in our property taxes,” another event organizer, Mike Sullivan, said.
In addition to the loss of some of the Greenbelt protected lands, Bill 23 would also allow the province override local planning and puts the costs of new development on municipalities.
“All this bill does is hand some money over to developers and put it on the backs of taxpayers,” Sullivan said.
There are similar concerns in the Region of Waterloo.
“We want to make sure our rural communities preserve their existing character,” said Sean Campbell, Organizer of Hold the Line WR.
The region has a unique planning tool, the Country Side Line, designed to curb urban sprawl.
“This tool helps make our community more interesting by focusing growth on our urban cores, making infrastructure more efficient, and allowing our communities to grow up and not over our farms, forests, and drinking water,” Campbell said.
He said the tool could be in jeopardy if the bill moves ahead. Campbell is calling on other residents to speak up if they have concerns about the bill.
“I think community organizing can have an effect,” Campbell said. “So hopefully by continuing to advocate and work together as a community, the province will hear us and we weren't consulted on this we weren't asked and this isn't what we want to see.”
The government believes Bill 23 is needed to increase housing supply.
“We are in a housing crisis. We made a promise during the election that we would put a plan in place to build 1.5 million homes over the next ten years,” Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark said at Queen’s Park this week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.