Latest news with #RobFlack
Global News
3 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Peel Region paused borrowing because of ‘perceived uncertainty' from Ontario policies
A major Ontario municipality was forced to stop borrowing money to invest in various projects for two years because of 'perceived uncertainty' caused by policies and reversals put forward by the Ford government. The Region of Peel, one of the province's largest local governments, didn't borrow any money in either 2023 or 2024 because of instability brought about by the province's attempts to split up the municipality. The admission that government policy and reversals had a direct impact on the Peel Region's ability to borrow was contained in briefing documents prepared for Rob Flack, the minister of municipal affairs and housing. 'As a result of perceived uncertainty related to any potential restructuring, Peel Region has experienced challenges accessing financing from capital markets,' the documents, obtained by Global News using freedom of information laws, said. 'Peel Region and the lower-tier municipalities are seeking stability on the future state of service delivery.' Story continues below advertisement That uncertainty stems from the Ford government's semi-reversed attempts to disband the Region of Peel and give all its powers to its member municipalities, Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga. The split was first announced in May 2023, with a transition board created and an aggressive timeline to have it complete by the beginning of 2025. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy A year before that was set to happen, however, the government announced it was reversing the split. In the end, after an intervention from the chair of the transition board, the government settled on a watered-down, partial breakup of the local government. The reversals and policy shifts left the Region of Peel in a sticky spot. In particular, part of the Hazel McCallion Act — tabled in 2023 to dissolve the region — gave the transition board planning the move significant power. 'The original Hazel McCallion Act, unfortunately, had a clause in it that said the transition board could amend things, and that clause had an unintended consequence that we didn't feel we could enter the capital markets,' Mississauga and Peel Coun. Joe Horneck explained. 'If the legal clause was there, the transition board could renegotiate things. Someone purchasing our debt might say, 'Well, how do I know they won't decide to execute that option and my money vanishes?'' As a result, Peel was out in the cold and unable to borrow for all of 2023 and all of 2024. Story continues below advertisement Horneck said the clause had left the local government exposed to a potentially difficult situation. 'We were able to utilize the reserves we had,' he said. 'We were kind of in the fall coming into a point where we would have been worryingly low, but we were able to get out from under the legislation in time.' Horneck said that if changes had not come, the region could have been forced to ask the province for 'some kind of bridge financing' or — in a scenario both the local and provincial governments would have looked to avoid — delay or cancel construction plans. The transition board was dissolved in December 2024, allowing the region to start borrowing again, which it did in April. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing said the Ford government had 'made record investments' in the area and would 'continue to work collaboratively with Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon to support them through the transition process.' They did not directly address questions about borrowing issues or delays in tabling legislation to complete the Peel Region transition. Ontario NDP municipal critic Jeff Burch characterized the split as 'chaotic and irresponsible' from when it was first announced in May 2023. 'This has been a sloppy, unprofessional mess from the beginning,' he said. 'It's no surprise that no one, including financial markets, has any confidence in this government's ability to manage the situation.'
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
No impact to Toronto's green standard under new Ontario law, city staff says
Buildings are shown on Adelaide Street, in downtown Toronto, on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tammy Hoy TORONTO — A newly released report from city staff says Toronto still has the authority to mandate new buildings meet certain climate and sustainability targets, despite concerns those powers could be undercut by a recent Ontario law. The report set to go before the city's executive committee today says there's 'no impact' to the city's ability to apply its green standard to new development under the recently passed Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act. Several environmental and industry groups have suggested the law may prevent municipalities from setting standards beyond what's already required in the provincial building code. Toronto's green standard is considered a key plank of the city's climate plan and is touted as a way to make new buildings more resilient to climate-fuelled extreme weather while cutting back on emissions. Among other things, it requires new builds to retain stormwater to prevent flooding during extreme rainfall and have enough tree canopy to help stave off extreme heat. It also requires buildings to meet annual emissions targets, pushing developers to consider low-carbon heating options such as heat pumps over natural gas, and install parking spots for bikes and electric vehicles. A spokesperson for Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack did not directly say whether the bill would impact Toronto's ability to enforce the standard, but she did say it was adding to building costs and slowing down construction. 'Our government is focused on what the economics support, setting the same rules for everyone to get shovels in the ground to build more homes faster,' Alexandra Sanita wrote in a statement. The Atmospheric Fund, a regional agency that supports climate solutions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, has suggested green development standards may actually help accelerate development timelines by streamlining sustainability-related planning requirements into a single document with clear expectations. In a letter to the province, it pointed to data that suggested Toronto and Pickering, two municipalities with green standards, have both seen their approval timelines improve in recent years, although they remain above the national average. Bryan Purcell, a vice-president at The Atmospheric Fund who's worked closely on green standards, says he was 'somewhat surprised' but 'very encouraged' by how definitive the city's position was in the staff report. He says green standards are 'so core' to Toronto's climate objectives that 'we can't really afford to lose it.' But he said the bill had generated enough confusion to possibly stall efforts by municipalities interested in pursuing their own version of the standard. 'I think the biggest immediate impact is that I expect to see some slowdown in those cities that were on the path of developing their first green standards,' he said in an interview. The omnibus Bill 17 was rushed through the legislature and passed into law earlier this month before a public comment period closed and without further review by a legislative committee. Changes made under the new provincial law prevent municipalities from passing bylaws respecting the construction or demolition of buildings. Some law firms and regulatory bodies, including the Ontario Association of Architects, have said that change would appear to make green standards obsolete. Others have suggested the province may use the bill to limit what types of studies a city can require from a developer before approving a project. Toronto's green standard, for example, requires a developer to submit an energy modelling report that outlines how the building will keep greenhouse gas emissions in check. The OAA says green standards should not be lost, adding they help 'everyone understand energy consumption in buildings,' and position Ontario to achieve its climate targets. More than a dozen other Ontario municipalities have used Toronto as a model to come up with their own green standards. While Toronto, Halton Hills and Whitby are among those with mandatory standards, most are voluntary. The Residential Construction Council of Ontario, a vocal critic of the standard, has suggested it's adding to housing costs. RESCON sued Toronto over the standard last year in a case still before the courts. President Richard Lyall called the city staff report set to be discussed Tuesday 'delusional and unsubstantiated.' 'We're going to make our views known to the committee,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
Global News
5 days ago
- Business
- Global News
No impact to Toronto's green standard under new Ontario law, city staff says
A newly released report from city staff says Toronto still has the authority to mandate new buildings meet certain climate and sustainability targets, despite concerns those powers could be undercut by a recent Ontario law. The report set to go before the city's executive committee today says there's 'no impact' to the city's ability to apply its green standard to new development under the recently passed Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act. Several environmental and industry groups have suggested the law may prevent municipalities from setting standards beyond what's already required in the provincial building code. Toronto's green standard is considered a key plank of the city's climate plan and is touted as a way to make new buildings more resilient to climate-fuelled extreme weather while cutting back on emissions. Among other things, it requires new builds to retain stormwater to prevent flooding during extreme rainfall and have enough tree canopy to help stave off extreme heat. It also requires buildings to meet annual emissions targets, pushing developers to consider low-carbon heating options such as heat pumps over natural gas, and install parking spots for bikes and electric vehicles. Story continues below advertisement A spokesperson for Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack did not directly say whether the bill would impact Toronto's ability to enforce the standard, but she did say it was adding to building costs and slowing down construction. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Our government is focused on what the economics support, setting the same rules for everyone to get shovels in the ground to build more homes faster,' Alexandra Sanita wrote in a statement. The Atmospheric Fund, a regional agency that supports climate solutions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, has suggested green development standards may actually help accelerate development timelines by streamlining sustainability-related planning requirements into a single document with clear expectations. In a letter to the province, it pointed to data that suggested Toronto and Pickering, two municipalities with green standards, have both seen their approval timelines improve in recent years, although they remain above the national average. Bryan Purcell, a vice-president at The Atmospheric Fund who's worked closely on green standards, says he was 'somewhat surprised' but 'very encouraged' by how definitive the city's position was in the staff report. He says green standards are 'so core' to Toronto's climate objectives that 'we can't really afford to lose it.' But he said the bill had generated enough confusion to possibly stall efforts by municipalities interested in pursuing their own version of the standard. Story continues below advertisement 'I think the biggest immediate impact is that I expect to see some slowdown in those cities that were on the path of developing their first green standards,' he said in an interview. The omnibus Bill 17 was rushed through the legislature and passed into law earlier this month before a public comment period closed and without further review by a legislative committee. Changes made under the new provincial law prevent municipalities from passing bylaws respecting the construction or demolition of buildings. Some law firms and regulatory bodies, including the Ontario Association of Architects, have said that change would appear to make green standards obsolete. Others have suggested the province may use the bill to limit what types of studies a city can require from a developer before approving a project. Toronto's green standard, for example, requires a developer to submit an energy modelling report that outlines how the building will keep greenhouse gas emissions in check. The OAA says green standards should not be lost, adding they help 'everyone understand energy consumption in buildings,' and position Ontario to achieve its climate targets. More than a dozen other Ontario municipalities have used Toronto as a model to come up with their own green standards. While Toronto, Halton Hills and Whitby are among those with mandatory standards, most are voluntary. The Residential Construction Council of Ontario, a vocal critic of the standard, has suggested it's adding to housing costs. RESCON sued Toronto over the standard last year in a case still before the courts. Story continues below advertisement President Richard Lyall called the city staff report set to be discussed Tuesday 'delusional and unsubstantiated.' 'We're going to make our views known to the committee,' he said.
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Toronto can still mandate sustainable building designs despite Ontario law: city staff report
Social Sharing A newly released report from city staff says Toronto still has the authority to mandate new buildings meet certain climate and sustainability targets, despite concerns those powers could be undercut by a recent Ontario law. The report set to go before the city's executive committee on Tuesday says there's "no impact" to the city's ability to apply its green standard to new development under the recently passed Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act. Several environmental and industry groups have suggested the law may prevent municipalities from setting standards beyond what's already required in the provincial building code. Toronto's green standard is considered a key plank of the city's climate plan and is touted as a way to make new buildings more resilient to climate-fuelled extreme weather while cutting back on emissions. Among other things, it requires new builds to retain stormwater to prevent flooding during extreme rainfall and have enough tree canopy to help stave off extreme heat. It also requires buildings to meet annual emissions targets, pushing developers to consider low-carbon heating options such as heat pumps over natural gas, and install parking spots for bikes and electric vehicles. A spokesperson for Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack did not directly say whether the bill would impact Toronto's ability to enforce the standard, but she did say it was adding to building costs and slowing down construction. "Our government is focused on what the economics support, setting the same rules for everyone to get shovels in the ground to build more homes faster," Alexandra Sanita wrote in a statement. Experts warn Bill 17 could stall local green standards The Atmospheric Fund, a regional agency that supports climate solutions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, has suggested green development standards may actually help accelerate development timelines by streamlining sustainability-related planning requirements into a single document with clear expectations. In a letter to the province, it pointed to data that suggested Toronto and Pickering, two municipalities with green standards, have both seen their approval timelines improve in recent years, although they remain above the national average. WATCH | Province gave Toronto $67M after city came close to hitting housing target last year: Ontario gives Toronto $67M boost to help meet housing targets 11 days ago Duration 2:39 Bryan Purcell, a vice-president at The Atmospheric Fund who's worked closely on green standards, says he was "somewhat surprised" but "very encouraged" by how definitive the city's position was in the staff report. He says green standards are "so core" to Toronto's climate objectives that "we can't really afford to lose it." But he said the bill had generated enough confusion to possibly stall efforts by municipalities interested in pursuing their own version of the standard. "I think the biggest immediate impact is that I expect to see some slowdown in those cities that were on the path of developing their first green standards," he said in an interview. The omnibus Bill 17 was rushed through the legislature and passed into law earlier this month before a public comment period closed and without further review by a legislative committee. Changes made under the new provincial law prevent municipalities from passing bylaws respecting the construction or demolition of buildings. Some law firms and regulatory bodies, including the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), have said that change would appear to make green standards obsolete. Others have suggested the province may use the bill to limit what types of studies a city can require from a developer before approving a project. Toronto's green standard, for example, requires a developer to submit an energy modelling report that outlines how the building will keep greenhouse gas emissions in check. The OAA says green standards should not be lost, adding they help "everyone understand energy consumption in buildings," and position Ontario to achieve its climate targets. More than a dozen other Ontario municipalities have used Toronto as a model to come up with their own green standards. While Toronto, Halton Hills and Whitby are among those with mandatory standards, most are voluntary. The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), a vocal critic of the standard, has suggested it's adding to housing costs. RESCON sued Toronto over the standard last year in a case still before the courts. President Richard Lyall called the city staff report set to be discussed Tuesday "delusional and unsubstantiated."
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
No impact to Toronto's green standard under new Ontario law, city staff says
TORONTO - A newly released report from city staff says Toronto still has the authority to mandate new buildings meet certain climate and sustainability targets, despite concerns those powers could be undercut by a recent Ontario law. The report set to go before the city's executive committee today says there's 'no impact' to the city's ability to apply its green standard to new development under the recently passed Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act. Several environmental and industry groups have suggested the law may prevent municipalities from setting standards beyond what's already required in the provincial building code. Toronto's green standard is considered a key plank of the city's climate plan and is touted as a way to make new buildings more resilient to climate-fuelled extreme weather while cutting back on emissions. Among other things, it requires new builds to retain stormwater to prevent flooding during extreme rainfall and have enough tree canopy to help stave off extreme heat. It also requires buildings to meet annual emissions targets, pushing developers to consider low-carbon heating options such as heat pumps over natural gas, and install parking spots for bikes and electric vehicles. A spokesperson for Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack did not directly say whether the bill would impact Toronto's ability to enforce the standard, but she did say it was adding to building costs and slowing down construction. 'Our government is focused on what the economics support, setting the same rules for everyone to get shovels in the ground to build more homes faster,' Alexandra Sanita wrote in a statement. The Atmospheric Fund, a regional agency that supports climate solutions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, has suggested green development standards may actually help accelerate development timelines by streamlining sustainability-related planning requirements into a single document with clear expectations. In a letter to the province, it pointed to data that suggested Toronto and Pickering, two municipalities with green standards, have both seen their approval timelines improve in recent years, although they remain above the national average. Bryan Purcell, a vice-president at The Atmospheric Fund who's worked closely on green standards, says he was 'somewhat surprised' but 'very encouraged' by how definitive the city's position was in the staff report. He says green standards are 'so core' to Toronto's climate objectives that 'we can't really afford to lose it.' But he said the bill had generated enough confusion to possibly stall efforts by municipalities interested in pursuing their own version of the standard. 'I think the biggest immediate impact is that I expect to see some slowdown in those cities that were on the path of developing their first green standards,' he said in an interview. The omnibus Bill 17 was rushed through the legislature and passed into law earlier this month before a public comment period closed and without further review by a legislative committee. Changes made under the new provincial law prevent municipalities from passing bylaws respecting the construction or demolition of buildings. Some law firms and regulatory bodies, including the Ontario Association of Architects, have said that change would appear to make green standards obsolete. Others have suggested the province may use the bill to limit what types of studies a city can require from a developer before approving a project. Toronto's green standard, for example, requires a developer to submit an energy modelling report that outlines how the building will keep greenhouse gas emissions in check. The OAA says green standards should not be lost, adding they help 'everyone understand energy consumption in buildings,' and position Ontario to achieve its climate targets. More than a dozen other Ontario municipalities have used Toronto as a model to come up with their own green standards. While Toronto, Halton Hills and Whitby are among those with mandatory standards, most are voluntary. The Residential Construction Council of Ontario, a vocal critic of the standard, has suggested it's adding to housing costs. RESCON sued Toronto over the standard last year in a case still before the courts. President Richard Lyall called the city staff report set to be discussed Tuesday 'delusional and unsubstantiated.' 'We're going to make our views known to the committee,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
