Durham MPP wants clarity in Planning Act

By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express

Durham’s MPP is hoping a new private member’s bill will help local seniors find innovative ways to secure housing.

On Feb. 28, the Ontario Legislature will debate the bill brought forth by Lindsey Park earlier this month.

The bill seeks to clarify under the Planning Act that local municipalities cannot use by-law zoning powers to block certain types of housing.

Park told The Oshawa Express she was motivated to make the bill after meeting a group of senior women who have dubbed themselves “The Golden Girls of Port Perry.”

“They don’t want to keep living independently any longer, but didn’t see themselves living in a retirement residence, condo or apartment in the traditional way,” Park explained.

The group wants to renovate a home so they can live together, but Park says a past local council tried to use zoning laws to block this.

Park says she wants to ensure the Planning Act is clear that this shouldn’t be done.

She said it may not have been a malicious attempt, as she admits “planning legislation and rules can be very complicated, particularly for smaller municipalities to wrap their heads around.”

This is Park’s first private member’s bill since she took office last June.

“I’m proud it addresses both a local need and a local story, but also connects to a province-wide need.”

So far she says she has received positive feedback from stakeholders such as home builders associations, seniors groups and health care organizations.

Park sees this as a very important issue because seniors are “the fastest growing population demographic in Durham Region.”