OPINION: Ford government shows weakness with its reliance on MZOs

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 10, 2021

Re: MZOs an important tool to ensure projects needed by communities get built, Jan. 15, 2021.

I was intrigued by the letter of Bernie Divona, a former Vaughan councillor, praising Minister's Zoning Orders (MZOs).

If Divona believes the Minister of Municipal Affairs (MMAH) can make all development decisions, why bother being a councillor?

He described the MMAH as “duly elected.” So are all politicians, Bernie!

He claims MZOs “remind municipalities they are creatures of the province.” Why so disdainful of municipal service?

Municipal councils and MPPs gain their power from voters. That pejorative term should be reserved for those governing “creatures” who show contempt and disregard for the democratic process and voters.

MZOs were once rarely issued for projects in remote northern areas, lacking municipal administration, but public input remained part of the process. Public consultation is the foundation of democracy, including elections.

So, why has Ontario frozen public consultations when it comes to community planning? Democracy also applies between elections.

A provincially-imposed MZO does not serve any municipality in southern Ontario. Those municipalities employ qualified professional planners, who prepare Official Plans (OPs) with community input.

Ontario mandates the preparation of OPs by municipalities because the province has neither the planning staff, nor the competence, to administer the entire province.

Since Ford became premier, public consultations have ceased, while 39 (at last count) MZOs have been imposed without notice on a number of municipal councils.

That explains what is happening at Dominion Foundry Site in Toronto. Last December, Aurora planners were surprised to learn about an MZO issued in their area.

Divona referred to the collapse of the roof of the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake in 2012, where an MZO was justified. The roof collapsed after 30 years of neglect. Two people died.

Inadequate inspections were blamed, and the inspecting engineer confessed to altering his inspection report at his client's request.

That is the tragedy of blinkered favouritism, a weakness the Ford government now shows toward developers through its unqualified unilateral issuance of MZOs.

Vicki Hotte
King