11 April 2008 QUEEN’S PARK—As the fight against the large scale Leslieville retail development rages, Beaches‑East York NDP MPP Michael Prue challenged the Minister of Municipal Affairs to uphold the McGuinty Liberals’ own policy and protect highly valued employment lands. The Minister’s answer: “Ministers do not interfere and intervene with OMB matters, and I won’t.” In a process that bears eerie similarities to the Portlands Energy Centre debacle, the Province continued its practice of ignoring the will of Ontario residents and the democratically elected officials who serve them. Despite widespread opposition to the Leslieville project from both Toronto City Council and the affected east end community, the McGuinty Liberals maintain their silence as the developers make an end-run around provincial policy and the voice of the community, taking their case to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), an unelected, quasi-judicial body that often puts developer interests ahead of the wishes of communities. Prue called on the McGuinty government to declare a provincial interest in the May 20 OMB hearing in an effort to protect the film employment lands, a significant part of the local and provincial economies. As it stands, a rezoning of the Leslieville location eliminates valuable urban employment lands, a direct contradiction of the McGuinty Liberals’ own Smart Growth strategy. In his query to the Minister, Prue also pushed the McGuinty Liberals’ to maintain their commitment to OMB reform and close the loophole that allows developers to use the unaccountable body to overrule municipal planning decisions. “Your government promised to reform the Ontario Municipal Board and yet developers are still bypassing the city of Toronto planning process and heading straight to that body,” noted Prue. In closing his part of the exchange Prue made the explicit request for the Province to heed the wishes of the community and keep its promises. “Will you declare a provincial interest at the OMB hearing, simply saying that this province doesn't want this kind of action, on or before May 20, or are more employment lands such as these to be lost to the City of Toronto?” asked Prue. -30- Media Inquiries: Laurie Orrett (416) 325-1303 |
| Click here for Michael's exchange with the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing regarding the proposed Leslieville Retail Development |
