Removal of Schedule 10 of Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018

Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competiveness Act, 2018 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on December 6th, 2018. Included in the Bill were proposed changes to the Planning Act that would help municipalities attract businesses seeking approval by streamlining the land use planning approvals process.

I have been clear since Bill 66 was introduced that we are committed to protecting the Greenbelt and that we would not support any projects that went against that commitment. Our government will ensure that every project meets the commitments in the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, which will enforce the protection of groundwater, lakes, and waterways.

We were clear from the beginning that the municipal planning tool in Schedule 10 in Bill 66 would never be approved at the expense of the Greenbelt or other provincial interests like water quality, public health and safety.

This was always about job creation. As a result of the confusion and misinterpretation that grew from discussions about Bill 66, we will be removing Schedule 10 of Bill 66.

We will continue working with our municipal partners to reduce red tape that discourages job creators in Ontario. Ontario is Open for Business and we need to regain our competitive advantage by making it easier for businesses to operate in the province. We will do this at the same time as ensuring that businesses follow the commitments in the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan.

Our government has been clear that we will protect the greenbelt and we will not support proposals that go against that commitment. For a copy of Bill 66, please visit my website www.sylviajonesmpp.ca.

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For more information contact:

Lavinia Trask, EA for Sylvia Jones, MPP

519-941-7751 sylvia.jonesco@pc.ola.org