A motion will be going to the Planning and Growth Management Committee on November 8th to abolish the OMB – you know, that developer friendly provincial institution that is usually running roughshod over local planning and community wishes.
This follows a recent unanimous Mississauga council vote to end the OMB, and recent calls by Toronto Councillors Wong-Tam and Matlow to abolish the OMB.
TPSI will be making a deputation in support of the motion to scrap the OMB and we encourage all of you to come out and speak your mind as well. We do not need the OMB to tell Toronto how to plan its development – we can and should be doing that ourselves, just as every other city in North American outside of Ontario does. Appeals on points of law can and should be left to the courts, where they belong. Specific historically sensitive and controversial matters, such as the development of shelters, can be left up to a low cost internal appeals body.
Torontonian’s often talk about the need for greater community consultation and democracy in municipal development. These will remain elusive and limited as long as the OMB is hanging over the city. Toronto will never be able to fully develop innovations such as community planning boards, or make meaningful use of public engagement. Stand up for local democracy. The committee agenda is posted here and the item is PG9.11. Email [email protected] if you would like to come out to the meeting to speak your mind.
If you cannot make it out to the meeting in person please email the committee members – tell them to support the motion to abolish the OMB.
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An article on Councillor Wong-Tam’s effort to scrap the OMB
A motion by Councillor Wong-Tam and Josh Matlow on the OMB
Coverage of Mississauga’s efforts to abolish the OMB
I do agree that the OMB needs to be abolish. I live on on a one way street that used to quiet, and now its turned in highway in the mornings. Plus with hundreds of new people in the area and one local grocery closing because of another new condo, people will have to drive or take TTC to get food.
Also if there isn’t stores and there too far away, why on earth would you want to live downtown if you can’t walk to get what you need.
They need to restore the funding and increase it for the City of Toronto Planning Dept. too.