The conservation authority serving Windsor-Essex said it is business as usual despite Ontario's new, ambitious housing plan.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) has clarified its position after the provincial government passed Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. The bill will remove existing requirements for public consultation on planning matters in addressing a shortage of affordable housing. Such consultation will also apply to talks with conservation authorities.
ERCA Chief Administrative Officer Tim Byrne told WindsorNewsToday.ca that Bill 23 only places conservation authorities on the back burner with new development.
"Bill 23 eliminates the opportunity for member municipalities to fully utilize a conservation authority as a resource to satisfy their responsibilities under the provincial policy statement," said Byrne.
Byrne also said that the Act would make the planning process for developers more chaotic and make the competition more cutthroat.
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing could exempt some policies under Bill 23, but Byrne has insisted nothing has changed at ERCA. Municipalities should still forward any planning applications to ERCA for review, and any plan review or comment concerning natural resources and source water protection will continue.
Byrne added that while Ontario's housing stock must be strengthened, he does not believe it should be at the expense of conservation authorities.
"There is not a housing crisis in this province, there is an affordable housing crisis. Those are different creatures," said Byrne. "How is it that conservation authorities are seeming to be picked on that housing is not affordable? I don't understand the relationship."
The provincial government said Bill 23 was intended to simplify planning for housing construction, but Byrne said the Act does the opposite.
"It is just mind-boggling at the moment how this is all intended to be actually worked through, and why municipalities would be eliminated from the opportunity of utilizing conservation authorities as a resource. It's just mind-boggling," said Byrne.
Schedule Two of the Act, which pertains to conservation authorities, can be found on the Ontario Legislature's official website.
---with files from Maureen Revait
