Statement from Burlington Mayor Regarding the Passing of Bill 108

Bill 108 will have a devastating impact on municipal finances and local land use planning control.Changes to development charges will mean growth will pay even less of the cost of growth, leaving taxpayers to make up the difference. This will unnecessarily add costs at a time when local governments are being asked to find savings.Reinstating the old Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) rules means even less local control over planning our communities.Bill 108, also known as “More Homes, More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan,” was first introduced just last month. Burlington City Council, Halton Region, fellow mayors from the Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) and other mayors from across Ontario all expressed significant concerns with the impact it would have on our communities.With legislation that impacts no less than 13 different acts, we requested more time to submit our comments before a decision was made, so we could better evaluate the potential impacts to our cities.The Province did not listen.The Bill was passed yesterday (June 6).We now turn our attention to the regulations that will implement the bill, expected this fall, where there may be opportunity to undo some of the damage Bill 108 will cause.RELATED CONTENT:

• Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) releases statement on Bill 108 receiving Royal Assent
• Burlington Mayor Urges Residents to Contact Local MPPs on Bill 108
• Finding Municipal Budget Efficiencies
• What We Did at the Burlington City Council Meeting on May 27
• LUMCO Meeting in Guelph
• Mayor Clarifies Some Key Points When it Comes to Development in Burlington