Chair Henry statement on Bill 23, the province’s most recent housing supply bill

Whitby, Ontario – The following statement is being issued on behalf of John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for The Regional Municipality of Durham:

“For years, municipal leaders from across Ontario have been working together to address increasing housing supply and affordability issues within our communities. We’ve made investments; offered innovative solutions; and carefully considered available land options for future developments that help to meet the specific needs of our communities.

While we welcome potential changes to help streamline processes—while increasing housing availability, rental and affordable housing—there are concerns with provincial Bill 23 (More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022).

It has proposed numerous changes to the Planning Act and Development Charges Act that, if passed, will significantly impact how municipal governments plan for, and recover the costs associated with growth. It has unintended consequences and widespread implications that impact all Ontarians economically, socially and environmentally.

Housing has been a Durham Regional Council priority for some time. First and foremost, we know that housing is a basic human right. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

But successful urban planning also requires a vision—a bigger picture. It’s about shaping communities that balance growth, services and protecting our environment for our residents. We need to protect our wetlands to mitigate flooding; and to take care of the woodlands that support the air we breathe. Ensuring a safe, prosperous and healthy future is what we have been elected to do.

It’s the foundation of our Regional Official Plan, and the basis for Envision Durham—our vision for growth to 2051.

We welcome growth. It strengthens our communities and we have been planning for it in a thoughtful, strategic manner. We have a vision for transit-oriented development, with public transit at the heart of future communities. We need to provide all services for our communities as cost-effectively as possible, so that they can grow and thrive.

And we believe that growth should pay for growth. Development charges have traditionally been collected to fund large infrastructure projects required for new builds. Without them, municipalities are forced to cover the costs through increased property taxes and water and sewer rates—a burden on existing residents and businesses.

Growth management remains an important Regional responsibility, including planning major infrastructure at a regional level.

We encourage the province to engage in further dialogue with municipalities and residents to help ensure the environment—and the health and safety of all Ontarians—remains at the forefront.”

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