Municipalities need say in local planning: Kitchener motion

Kitchener councillors will consider a motion Monday urging the province to allow municipalities to retain more of a say in local planning decisions.

The province’s Bill 17, the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, was introduced this year to speed up development and reduce costs with consistent, Ontario-wide construction standards.

Critics argue it takes away the ability for municipalities to set policies that address local concerns and establish stricter energy-efficiency and green building regulations.

Municipalities are also worried about changes to how development charges are collected from builders. A Kitchener report said deferring payment from the time a building permit is issued to occupancy will result in an estimated short-term loss to the city of $50 to $60 mi