The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) made significant strides in achieving its legislative goals to strengthen local communities. The ministry enshrined the principal of municipal consultation in law and successfully negotiated for a share of federal gas tax revenue for local governments. The ministry consulted on proposed new legislation to strengthen Ontario municipalities including a new City of Toronto Act and introduced new legislation to reform the land use planning system. The ministry took major steps during the year to building more affordable housing and strengthen protection for tenants and consulted with the public on a new building code.
Detailed achievements for 2005-06 are summarized below by key activity area.
Local Government
The ministry continued to review the Municipal Act, 2001 to look for ways to strengthen Ontario’s communities. During the year, the ministry consulted on the proposed changes with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, municipal organizations and business stakeholders with a view to introducing legislation in 2006-07.
In partnership with the City of Toronto, MMAH coordinated the Strong Ontario Strong Toronto consultation, an unprecedented joint consultation to garner public input for a new City of Toronto Act. An exhaustive review of existing legislation was supplemented by a simultaneous live public consultation at four sites across Toronto, and a first-ever joint consultation website. In December 2005, a new City of Toronto Act (Bill 53) was introduced, which if passed by the legislature, would provide Toronto with the tools it needs to thrive in the global economy.
The ministry took steps to enshrine into law the principal of consultation with municipalities, as set out in the Memorandum of Agreement previously signed with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. In June 2005, the Municipal Amendment Act, 2005 (Bill 92) came into effect, providing for consultation on legislation, regulations and government decisions that affect municipalities.
The ministry led Ontario’s negotiations with the federal government for sharing federal gas tax revenues with Ontario’s municipalities. Subsequently, in June 2005, the three levels of government signed an historic agreement to share $1.8 billion in gas tax revenues with Ontario municipalities including $223 million in 2005-06.
In February 2006, the legislature passed the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Act, 2006 into law. This new ministry legislation gives the more than 355,000 working and retired Ontarians who pay into and benefit from the plan, and their employers, control over their pensions.
Land Use Planning
Continued development of reforms to land use planning to ensure sustainable growth and reduce sprawl was a significant focus during the year for the ministry.
Following consultations with municipalities, the development industry and other stakeholders, the ministry introduced legislation in December 2005 to reform Ontario’s land-use planning system and clarify the role of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Subject to legislative approval, the proposed Planning and Land Conservation Statute Law Amendment Act would strengthen the role of local councils and residents in community planning and return the OMB to its original role as an appeal body on local planning matters, rather than the main decision maker.
With the Greenbelt Act proclaimed into law in February 2005, the ministry shifted its focus this year to implementation of the Greenbelt Plan to protect the 1.8 million acres of agricultural and environmentally-sensitive lands in the Golden Horseshoe area of Southcentral Ontario. In June 2005, the ministry appointed a Greenbelt Council to provide advice on administration of the lands and provided ongoing support and advice to the council during its first year of operation.
In a related move, MMAH solicited public comment on a proposed development plan for the North Pickering lands, located in the Greenbelt. Under the North Pickering Land Exchange agreement, the province is exchanging lands it owns in North Pickering for privately-owned lands in Richmond Hill and Uxbridge. The land exchange agreement will protect environmentally-sensitive lands on the Oak Ridges Moraine and ensure permanent Greenbelt protection.
The ministry also took steps to promote development of former industrial lands in urban areas known as brownfields. MMAH appointed a ministry brownfields coordinator and established a website for one-window access for information on brownfields and related legislation. The ministry also continued to support the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal’s implementation of the province’s Places to Grow strategy.
During the year, the ministry helped implement an inter-government action plan in Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia to address concerns about population growth and development pressures and help area municipalities plan for the future. The ministry organized several Open House events to update local residents.
Affordable Housing
The ministry continued to create more affordable housing in Ontario through the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program (AHP). This program comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments are investing at least $734 million in the program. This investment will create 15,000 new units of affordable housing for low-income households, victims of domestic violence and people with mental illness, plus create 5,000 new housing allowances by 2010.
The new Canada Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement, 2005 (AHP) was signed on April 29, 2005. A program design and implementation plan was prepared, information sessions were held with municipal service managers and key housing stakeholders, program guidelines were developed, and announcements were made. In 2005-06, the AHP committed to a total of $158.66M in federal and provincial funding for a total of 4,780 Affordable Housing Program Units.
The ministry also continued to help lower-income tenants with short-term arrears through the $10 million Rent Bank program. Rent bank funding helps avoid eviction for residents with low incomes who, due to an unforeseen crisis, miss a rent payment.
During the year, the ministry continued consulting with stakeholders with a goal of introducing new residential tenancy legislation. In August, the ministry released the province’s rent increase guideline for 2006 of 2.1 per cent. Most tenants in Ontario receive an annual rent increase that is at or below the guideline.
Building Regulation
The ministry administers the Building Code Act, 1992 and the Ontario Building Code and ensures the code is consistently and effectively applied by industry and municipal building officials. This year, the ministry conducted wide-ranging consultations with building code stakeholders on amendments to the building code with a priority goal of increasing energy-efficiency standards in all new and renovated buildings. During March 2006, the ministry conducted five public consultation meetings in all regions in Ontario, with a goal of publishing a new building code in 2006-07.
Other Accomplishments
In October 2005, the ministry helped provide emergency relief effort to the Kashechewan First Nation, located on James Bay, following an E-Coli outbreak. The ministry worked with the Ministry of Community and Social Services to seek short-term accommodation for residents, many of whom were children.
In the latter part of 2005-06, the ministry transferred responsibility for rural affairs to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. This included transferring administration of such programs as the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF), the Rural Economic Development (RED) and Ontario’s Rural Plan.
Table 1: Ministry Expenditures
|
Ministry Actual Expenditures ($M) 2005/06
|
|
Operating |
924.8 |
|
Capital |
111.3
|
|
Staff Strength
(as of March 31, 2006) |
982.8 |