This Just In

The Private Member's Bill proposes a number of amendments to the City of Toronto Act, Planning Act and other regulations. They appear to reflect MPP Peter Milczyn’s intentions that he outlined during his provincial election campaign and are items that were of considerable interest to him when he served as a City of Toronto Councillor and Chair of the Planning and Growth Management Committee.

requires the OMB to make decisions that are consistent with municipal  council decisions..

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The above is an exert from a  BILD newsletter received this morning .

It's one of those things you'd be better off not knowing.

I feel compelled to share anyway. This blog is not about leaving readers in blissful ignorance. 

Note the Honorable  mentioned was a city Councillor and Chairman of the Planning and Growth Management  Committee before rising to the austere dignity of  Honorable Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Note also the  long-held function of the Ontario Municipal Board  is to  hear appeals  and rule for or against municipal decisions. 

To require the Board to endorse municipal decisions, as proposed by the Honorable Member,  is to remove  entirely the function of the  board

That a Member of the Legislative Assembly, erstwhile chairman of the Planning  and Growth  Management  Committee of Toronto Council can be so utterly, appallingly  and dismally ignorant of the  function of the Ontario Municipal Board  is sufficient cause to send a sensible  person  run screaming into the night. 

Much  as many would have it otherwise, when selfish interest is affected, people who buy property with a legal designation have a legal right to use the property for the purpose purchased. 

At any time, under regulations of the Ontario Planning Act  there exists legal right to make an application to change the use of property if deemed  by the owner to be useful. 

All property owners have the same right. 

Under the Act , the municipality is required to process an  application within a certain time period. 
Failure to do so means the Ontario Municipal Board  may assume  authority to make the decision themselves.

Original purpose of the Ontario Municipal Board was to approve municipal budgets. 

During the depression, municipalities failed to collect sufficient revenues to cover the cost of operations. Some declared bankruptcy to escape payment for goods and services received. 

It was not a good thing. 

The OMB was created to be the  public watchdog .

Until  Regional Governments were created , the OMB had supervisory authority to approve  proposed municipal debt.

Think about that.