Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy has issued the following statement related to the Province of Ontario’s proposed Bill 23 – The More Homes Built Faster Act:

“At a Special Council meeting held yesterday (November 24), our Council unanimously endorsed Staff Report PDP 65-22 as our position on the Province of Ontario’s proposed Bill 23. We join our municipal counterparts in voicing significant concerns about the Bill and the complete lack of consultation as to the impacts to towns and cities across the province.

In its current form, Bill 23 will have lasting, unintended, and significant consequences for Whitby and our residents. This Bill shifts the cost of growth directly to taxpayers by reducing the Development Charges that are currently paid by developers to help fund important growth-related infrastructure like new parks, roads, and recreational facilities. If passed, this Bill will mean both increases in property taxes and a reduction in the level of services that our growing community has come to expect here in Whitby. This is unacceptable. We are calling on the Province to revisit this Bill and its impacts on all municipalities, and current and future taxpayers. The unintended consequences will result in homeownership becoming more unaffordable for Ontarians, not less, as a result of these proposed changes.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

Erin Mikaluk
Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913
Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca