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Review of Provincial Policy Statement

Local governments in Ontario are responsible for land use planning. But their plans and their zoning bylaws that implement the plans must fit in the Provincial Government’s framework of policies for land use. One important way that the Province communicates this framework is through a document called the “Provincial Policy Statement”. This policy is created under the Planning Act and is revised every five years so it is current.

From work we have done across the Province, ACTO has seen that the planning efforts of local governments and the Province have failed to meet the need of low-income people for decent, affordable housing. The Provincial Policy Statement 2005 has tried to provide direction to local governments to meet this need. The policy contains provisions such as the following:

Land use must be carefully managed to accommodate appropriate development to meet the full range of current and future needs, while achieving efficient development patterns
Healthy, liveable and safe communities are sustained by improving accessibility for persons with disabilities and the elderly by removing and/or preventing land use barriers which restrict their full participation in society
Planning authorities shall provide for an appropriate range of housing types and densities to meet projected requirements of current and future residents of the regional market area by establishing and implementing minimum targets for the provision of housing which is affordable to low and moderate income households
Planning authorities shall (permit and facilitate) all forms of housing required to meet the social, health and well-being requirements of current and future residents, including special needs requirements (for example persons with disabilities such as physical, sensory or mental health disabilities, and housing for the elderly

These statements should give local governments the direction and the power to require land developers to build housing for all income groups and for all people with special needs. Yet dramatic shortages of suitable housing for low-income and disabled people persist.

The Provincial Government is now seeking input from the public on a new Provincial Policy Statement. ACTO has recommended that the Statement be toughened up to address the ongoing lack of affordable housing. We think the Statement should include provisions that would require local governments to:

plan for the provision of housing for people who will not have their housing needs met by the private market
require the inclusion of housing for low- and moderate-income people in all redevelopment and intensification projects
take steps to prevent the loss of rental housing
promote environmental sustainability
plan for student housing as part of expanding educational opportunities

With these changes to the Provincial Policy Statement, local governments will be required to consider development proposals in the light of the real housing needs of low-income people including people with disabilities, older people and students. The new Statement has not yet been released.