Changes will be made to official and city plans in Niagara
Housing Minister Paul Calandra says the province will introduce legislation to reverse changes to urban boundaries in several areas, including Niagara.
He made the announcement during a press briefing this morning at Queen's Park.
"Since becoming Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, I have made it a priority to review past decisions, including minister’s zoning orders and official plans, to ensure that they support our goal of building at least 1.5 million homes in a manner that maintains and reinforces public trust. In reviewing how decisions were made regarding official plans, it is now clear that they failed to meet this test."
The proposed bill would reverse official plans to change boundaries for Barrie, Bellevile, Guelph, Hamilton, Ottawa, Peterborough, and the regions of Halton, Niagara, Peel and Wellington County.
He also says exceptions will be made in cases where construction has started, or where changes would violate existing legislation.
Last year, the province announced plans to develop housing on parts of the Greenbelt to build more housing.
The move sparked outrage, and the province reversed course last month after scathing reports from the auditor general and the integrity commissioner.
Calandra is asking affected municipalities to submit proposed changes and plan updates within 45 days.
Two municipalities, Grimsby and Pickering, have asked the province to reimburse over $400,000 in costs incurred while working on Greenbelt land removals.
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