Prince Edward County council is opposing the Ford government’s new Provincial Planning Statement
During Tuesday’s council meeting, Councillor John Hirsch put forward a motion for the council to urge the provincial government to reconsider certain parts of the PPS.
Councillor Hirsch’s motion specifically targets provisions in the bill that take power away from municipalities, and encourage sprawling development of rural areas.
“We intentionally set out to intensify housing, in service built up areas and stopped the fragmentation of good farmland. We allow no residential services on prime-ag land in our official plan,” said Councillor Hirsch. “The proposed PPS does away with much of this and instead encourages carving up the countryside for residential development. None of these new rural lots will be hosts to affordable housing, you can be sure of that.”
The PPS would encourage sub-dividing agricultural land into residential sub-divisions, to combat the housing shortfalls across the province.
Prince Edward County Council is urging the province to pause implementation of the PPS and allow local municipalities to make their own decisions about how to develop their lands. A copy of the resolution is also being sent to all other Ontario municipalities, to encourage more support for opposition to the PPS.
