Motion: Ontario Greens renew call for forest fire action plan
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
“Fire season is well underway in Ontario, with the province reporting 94 fires already in 2024,” said Clancy.
“And yet, the Ford government has repeatedly failed to put forward a credible action plan that keeps our communities safe.”
“It’s time for the Minister of Natural Resources to stop stalling and start acting,” said Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner. “Our communities’ lives and livelihoods depend on it.”
Once again, Greens are calling on the Ford government to implement a forest fire action plan – designed in consultation with first responders and Indigenous communities – that includes:
- Increased funding for both emergency response and preparedness measures to boost access to PPE, training, equipment and technology to identify fire risk;
- Increased funding to hire and retain more wildland fire staff, with specific effort made to hire Indigenous wildland firefighters with traditional knowledge of wildfire management;
- Increased investments in wildfire risk reduction at all levels and the inclusion of wildland fire considerations in disaster risk reduction;
- Interventional research to examine cancer prevention and identify operating procedures to minimize occupational exposure;
- Enhanced data collection regarding the public health and economic impacts of forest fires;
- Application of a climate change lens to all land management planning;
- The creation of a dedicated climate adaptation fund to help municipalities make infrastructure climate-ready and reduce the risk of future environmental hazards; and
- A commitment to get Ontario off fossil gas and invest in cheaper, cleaner renewables and Indigenous-led climate solutions.
Bill 206: Affordable Electric Vehicles and Accessible Charging Act, 2024
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
The Bill enacts the Affordable Electric Vehicles and Accessible Charging Act, 2024. The Act requires the Minister of Transportation to establish an electric vehicle strategy that aims to increase the affordability of electric vehicles and the accessibility of charging stations. The Act also requires the Minister, as part of the development of the strategy, to consult with such persons, other levels of government and stakeholders as the Minister considers appropriate and to report annually on the actions taken as part of the strategy.
The Bill amends the Building Code Act, 1992 to provide that no person shall construct a building for residential occupancy unless they ensure that charging stations for electric vehicles are installed in accordance with the building code.
https://www.ola.org/sites/default/files/node-files/bill/document/pdf/2024/2024-06/b206_e.pdf
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-43/session-1/bill-206
Motion: Use government land for affordable housing
Thursday, April 25, 2024
“It’s long past time for the government to get back in the business of building affordable and deeply affordable housing so that everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Clancy.
“This province owns a lot of land. Some of it is currently sitting vacant or underused, and some of it is perfectly situated near growing communities and existing transit stations. Making better use of this land to build affordable homes will go a long way in helping us meet the goal of 250,000 affordable homes that housing advocates have called for.
“Ontario desperately needs an all-hands-on-deck plan to get back to building homes for people and the public good, and Greens will continue putting forward bold solutions to make this vision a reality
Motion: Allow midrises on major streets
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
That, in the opinion of the House, the government should allow for six- to 11-story midrise homes along major streets, including transit corridors, within urban boundaries as of right. In addition, the government shall also remove barriers to building such homes, including mandatory parking minimums and overly restrictive rules around physical character, setbacks, and floor space indexes in order to fast-track infill and build the housing supply that we need.
Bill 170: Keeping People Housed Act, 2024
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
The Bill amends the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Municipal Act, 2001 to implement various measures relating to rental accommodation.
The major elements of the amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 are as follows:
- Repealing section 6.1, removing the exemption from rent control provisions for the units described in that section.
- Amending section 50 to require notices of termination for demolition, conversion or repair to include the approvals necessary for the demolition, conversion or repair and other specified documentation.
- Amending section 54 to require landlords who are terminating a tenancy for the purpose of repairs or renovations to offer the tenant another acceptable rental unit for the period of the repairs or renovations or provide specified compensation.
- Enacting new section 113 to specify that the lawful rent that may be charged to a new tenant must be related to the amount that was last charged for the unit in accordance with the rules set out in this section. Amendments are made throughout the Act to support these rules, including an amendment to section 115 that allows tenants to apply to the Board for an order determining the maximum amount of rent that may lawfully be charged.
- Enacting a new Part XI.1, establishing a rent registry to be maintained by the Landlord and Tenant Board that requires landlords to file statements for inclusion in the Registry. The amendments also provide for consequences for failing to file statements with the registry.
- Enacting new section 232.1 to establish a Rental Task Force to inquire into issues related to above-guideline rent increases and publish a report.
The City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Municipal Act, 2001 are both amended to prohibit approvals of conversions or demolitions of buildings or a group of buildings that would result in the loss of six or more rental units unless the rents for those units exceed mid-range rents at the time of the application or the person seeking approval replaces the rental units in the specified manner and implements a tenant relocation and assistance plan.
