Ontario auditor-general highlights misuse of zoning orders under Ford's government
- The auditor general's report reveals a substantial increase in the use of ministerial zoning orders by the Ontario government, significantly altering land use regulations.
- This increase in zoning orders has led to a dramatic rise in the value of agricultural land and has sparked criticism for potentially prioritizing developers over community needs.
- The overall transparency and fairness of the ministerial zoning order process is under scrutiny, raising concerns about the government's commitment to responsible land management.
In Ontario, the auditor general reported significant findings regarding the province's ministerial zoning order process under Premier Doug Ford's administration. The province granted ministerial zoning orders 114 times from 2019 to 2023, marking a 17-fold increase compared to the previous two decades. These orders allow the housing minister to bypass municipal zoning regulations to expedite housing projects, which has caused a notable rise in agricultural land values, up 46% on average. Critics, including Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser, argue that this increase in zoning orders shows a clear disregard for local governance and community interests, with preferential treatment favoring land developers. The report highlights urgent issues with fairness and transparency in the application of these zoning orders, resulting in substantial public expenditure due to hasty decision-making and inadequate assessments of necessity. The auditor general's findings are reminiscent of previous controversies involving the Greenbelt land swap, further emphasizing the government's focus on benefiting private developers at the expense of public interests. Ontario's housing minister claimed that measures have been implemented regarding the use of ministerial zoning orders to ensure accountability, but skepticism remains about the government's commitment to local authorities and the needs of the public.