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Provincial Updates

Livable Oakville Council Sub-CommitteeOakville and Trafalgar Rooms

January 14, 2019

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Updates on recent provincial initiatives with implications for the Planning Act:

1. Growth Plan Implementation Working Group

2. Increasing Housing Supply in Ontario

3. Preserving and Protecting our Environment for Future Generations, A Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan

4. Bill 34, An Act to repeal the Green Energy Act

5. Bill 66, Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act

Presentation Outline

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September-November 2018, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, hosted a number of working group sessions

Purpose was to discuss specific, practical, workable solutions to challenges implementing the Growth Plan policies:

• Planning for Employment

• Agricultural and Natural Heritage Systems Mapping

• Planning for Major Transit Station Areas

• Intensification and Density Targets

• Settlement Area Boundary Expansions

Growth Plan Implementation Working Group

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November 28, 2018: Increasing Housing Supply in Ontario, Consultation Document released

Province is seeking public input on this document and the deadline for submissions is January 25, 2019

Staff have participated through the preparation of a Joint Submission by the Halton Area Planning Partnership (HAPP)

The HAPP Joint Submission will be:

considered by Oakville Council at January 14 meeting and by Regional Council on January 16, 2019

submitted to the province by January 25, 2019

Increasing Housing Supply in Ontario

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November 29, 2018: the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks released the province’s environmental plan titled “Preserving and Protecting our Environment for Future Generations: A Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan”.

The Plan addresses four main topics: protecting air and water; addressing climate change; reducing waste; and conserving greenspace.

Staff has undertaken a preliminary review of the Plan and provided commentary to the province through its participation as a municipal partner in the Clean Air Council.

Preserving and Protecting our Environment

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December 6, 2018: Bill 34, An Act to repeal the Green Energy Act and to amend the Electricity Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Planning Act etc. received Royal Assent

Key amendments to the Planning Act will have the effect of restoring:

• municipal planning application requirements

• municipal decision making authority with respect to renewable energy projects.

Bill 34, An Act to repeal the Green Energy Act

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December 6, 2018: first reading of Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018. The Bill is proposed by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

Bill 66 proposes to amend the Planning Act to allow local municipalities to pass "open-for-business planning by-laws”, which is currently limited to new major employment uses.

Bill 66 is intended to expedite planning and development by allowing municipalities to act quickly to attract new businesses, employment and economic growth opportunities.

Bill 66 will be considered by Oakville Council at their meeting of January 14, the commenting deadline is January 20, 2019.

Bill 66, Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act

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Discussion and Questions