FERGUS – It was a simple message to a big issue that could be heard through Downtown Fergus.
“Kill Bill 23,” protesters chanted while marching down St. Andrew Street in a rally that began outside MPP Ted Arnott’s office Wednesday morning.
The protesters were referring to Bill 23 — the More Homes Built Faster Act — which as the name suggests, is intended to expedite the building process and address skyrocketing housing prices in the province.
However, environmental activists from various groups and private citizens gathered in Fergus were sounding the alarm over aspects of the bill they say is damaging to the Greenbelt by removing acres that previously weren’t open to development and takes power away from conservation authorities, local councils and citizens.
Mike Nagy, an environmental activist, said in an interview he considered this issue to be one of the biggest environmental scandals in the province’s history.
“This blatant lie that somehow we need more land to bring down housing prices and create more housing has been proven over and over is not needed,” Nagy said.
“The province has so much land in reserve already and this is an absolute betrayal and lie Doug Ford has made because he actually campaigned against developing the Greenbelt.”
Eden Mills resident Robin Aggus said he was taking part in the march because he also didn’t believe the bill will solve the province's housing woes.
“Once you start building on protected lands you can’t go back and it’s only for monster houses is what happens on those lands, for the rich,” Aggus said, adding development should be focused on infill in the existing urban areas.
“High-rise, multi-unit buildings. People can’t afford apartments.”
Susan Robertson, member of the Friends of the Greenbelt West Coalition, was very concerned over this bill taking away the right to appeal in some planning matters and decisions which she said was unconstitutional.
“Twenty years of planning policy, analysis, work, studies, reports that brought us the growth plan, the legacy of conservation authorities for over 70 years in Ontario that are the envy of the world are being torn apart,” Robertson said.
“We have to say no, we’re here today to make a message clear to Ted Arnott, who has been in power for over 30 years and who as the Speaker of the House is largely unaccountable to his electorate and we’re tired of that.”
In an email, Arnott noted he was at Queen’s Park but was aware people were demonstrating at the riding office that morning.
However he declined to make a public comment on an issue likely to be debated in the house.
“Every speaker must be non-partisan and impartial, in order to do the job and maintain the confidence of both sides of the house,” Arnott said.
Nagy lamented Arnott’s approach to not take a position on anything due to his role as speaker makes him a “lame duck MPP.”
“We need him to actually fight this bill and speak up and stand up for the people of this area in the province and stop this bill,” Nagy said.
Protesters also expressed concern over the short period of time citizens and local councils — many of which had not been inaugurated since the election — to give comments on it as the deadline is Thursday. Therefore they encouraged the public to let their thoughts be known to their local MPPs.
