QUEEN'S PARK — Interim Ontario NDP Leader Peter Tabuns released the following statement in response to the Ford government's passage of Bill 39:
"Ontarians value democracy, and people are rightly concerned about Doug Ford's latest ploy to wrest power from local, democratically elected decision-makers, as he is giving himself permission to do with the just-passed Bill 39.
There is no doubt that Bill 39 is an attack on democracy, and that it will do nothing to solve Ontario's housing affordability crisis or build housing for real people. Instead, by directing mayors in Toronto and Ottawa to do his government's bidding with a mere one-third support of council, Ford is making it easier for wealthy developers and PC donors to get even richer carving up the Greenbelt.
If this government actually wanted to solve the housing crisis, it would commit to building more affordable homes for Ontarians, bringing in stronger rent control measures, building missing middle homes in existing neighbourhoods and clamping down on speculation.
It would protect the vital farmland and green space Ontarians need to grow our food, prevent flooding and keep our biodiversity safe.
The NDP will continue fighting for real solutions to the housing crisis, for strong local democracy and for the preservation of our precious Greenbelt."