On July 7, 2014, Parkdale - High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo reintroduced Bill 3 (Planning Amendment Act (Enabling Municipalities to Require Inclusionary Housing), 2014) from a previous session of Parliament, which received First Reading.
Bill 3 proposes to amend the Ontario Planning Act to allow municipalities to pass zoning by-laws to require inclusionary housing in the municipality by mandating that a specified percentage of housing units in new housing developments containing 20 or more housing units must be affordable to low and moderate income households. Section 51 of the Act is also proposed to be amended to allow an approval authority to require inclusionary housing as a condition of approval of a plan of subdivision.
Prior to a municipality passing such inclusionary housing by-law, Bill 3 requires the Official Plan of the municipality to contain provisions relating to inclusionary housing requirements. Bill 3 also allows the Lieutenant Governor to make regulations prescribing matters such as size, location, and design standards required for the affordable units.
Although private members' bills do not often receive Third Reading and Royal Assent, Stikeman Elliott will be keeping a close eye on the development of Bill 3 going forward. Bill 3 is anticipated to be given Second Reading when the Legislative Assembly resumes on October 20, 2014.
A copy of Bill 3 can be found on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario website.
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