The Concerning Impacts of Bill 23 for the City of Toronto

On November 28, the Provincial legislature passed Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, which will have significant and far-reaching impacts for the City of Toronto. While housing affordability remains a top priority, I am very concerned about how the bill will significantly limit the City's ability to secure much-needed infrastructure, protect rental housing stock, preserve heritage, uphold environmental standards, provide parkland, and enhance the public realm.
 
In their analysis, City staff found that Bill 23 weakens or eliminates the City's ability to secure new, affordable units and protect Toronto's existing rental housing stock. The legislation will also limit the tools the City uses to build complete communities supported by adequate infrastructure and remove municipal authority to make planning decisions within city borders. It will gut protections for built and natural heritage sites, potentially leaving thousands of properties vulnerable to demolition.
 
In its current form, Bill 23 will significantly decrease developer contributions to local infrastructure, parkland, and community amenities. Over the next year alone, City staff have identified that the bill could cost Toronto approximately $230 million in lost revenue, and up to $2 billion over the next decade. The Province has recently committed to "ensuring the City of Toronto is made whole," but this represents a departure from the long-held principle that growth pays for growth and instead shifts costs to taxpayers.
 
My office has prepared a webpage with more information about the impacts of Bill 23 and a list of Provincial contacts, which you can access here.