EmpowerTO: It’s time to Free Toronto from the Ontario Land Tribunal

Like its predecessor, the Ontario Municipal Board, there is no equivalent in any jurisdiction in North America. And no other city the size of Toronto has so little control over shaping its future and the mere ability to support its residents' quality of life. That's why this Motion requests City Council to advocate for the Provincial Government to free Toronto from the Ontario Land Tribunal and replace it with a true appeals body. Toronto already requires approval from the provincial government for its Official Plan, yet the Ontario Land Tribunal allows "de novo" (entirely new) hearings. Developers are automatically granted a hearing without having to cite an error in the City's decision. Further, Ontario Land Tribunal Chairs are only obligated to vaguely consider the "best possible planning outcome". This leads to our Planning Division spending time and money to create an Official Plan that must be approved by the Province and then subsequently defend that plan before a provincial body that is not required to uphold that provincially-approved plan. Residents expect that their locally elected Mayor and City Councillors have the responsibility, and ability, to ensure that Toronto is planned well and provides them with housing options that suit their income and family size, and that community amenities such as childcare, parks, and school space, along with infrastructure, keep up with the pace of growth. Empowering locally elected city councils to make land use planning decisions in their own geographical jurisdiction, rather than an unelected, provincially appointed body, is simply better governance and would ultimately provide the public accountability for the decisions that are made. It's time for Toronto to join municipalities across Ontario to request that Queen's Park dissolve the Ontario Land Tribunal.