Ontario government reverses planned urban boundary expansions

The Ontario government has announced that it will be reversing changes to urban plans and boundaries in regions across the province, including in Hamilton, Halton and Niagara.

At a press conference Monday morning, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra announced that the decision made by the previous minister would be reversed.

The plans would have seen changes to official city and region plans in 12 cities or municipalities across the province, including some urban boundary expansions.

The proposed boundary expansion in Hamilton sparked swift backlash from residents, who said it would have far-reaching effects on the city’s environment.

Calandra says the reversal comes as his team believed the changes to plans would not support their “goal of building at least 1.5 million homes in a manner that maintains and reinforces public trust.”

WATCH MORE: Residents continue to resist Hamilton urban boundary expansion

The new legislation is set to wind back provincial changes to official plans and plan amendments, with exception of cases where construction has begun or where doing so would intervene on provincial legislation and regulation. This will include winding back any changes to urban boundaries.

The Minister said that the government will be working with impacted municipalities to address the costs incurred with planning and staffing costs. This follows an initial refusal from the province to aid in covering the costs.

The Town of Grimsby is one of the municipalities calling on the government to cover the $82,000 worth of bills that accumulated in the wake of the initial announcement of changes to Greenbelt land.

In Monday’s press conference, Calandra said his office will be speaking with Grimsby officials about covering these costs.

The housing ministry is now asking impacted municipalities to submit all changes and updates to plans within the next 45 days.

WATCH MORE: Grimsby calls on province to reimburse Greenbelt land swap planning costs