Private Members’ Bill
PRESERVING EXISTING COMMUNITIES ACT Bill 41
Bill 41 Passes Second Reading April 18, 2013
TELEPHONE TOWN HALL MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2013 AT 7 PM 
There were some minor changes made to Bill 35 so please note the Bill has been reintroduced as Bill 41 and here is the PDF copy of the new version
Download “GLENWAY” Petition Preserving Existing Communities ___Listen to the petition presented in the legislature
Download Petition Preserving Existing Communities (other)
Frankly Speaking Article : Preserving Existing Communties March 19, 2013
Frankly Speaking Article: Locked Out of Town Hall April 2, 2013
Preserving Existing Communities Passes Second Reading April 18, 2013 Press release
Preserving Existing Communities Act Passes
Second Reading
Debate and vote Second Reading of Bill 41 April 18, 2013 Press Release
Press Conference with Councillors Patricia Mullin and Jim Tovey of Mississauga; Councillors Jane Twinney and Chris Emanuel of Newmarket and Lois MacDonnell of the Glenway Preservation Association
MPP Frank Klees introduces Bill Preserving Existing Communities
Recorded Telephone Town Hall April 11, 2013.
Frank Klees, MPP answers questions about this bill
(March 21, 2013) Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees took the first step today to preserve the quality of life of existing communities and to make municipal councils responsible and accountable for decisions relating to the intensification of established neighbourhoods.
“From time to time, legislation can have unintended consequences, and when those consequences become evident, we have a responsibility to amend that legislation to ensure the public interest is protected,” said Klees. “The Places to Grow Act and its companion legislation, the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe is a case in point.”
Klees made the comments at a press conference today after presenting his Private Members Bill in the legislature where it passed First Reading and is scheduled for Second Reading debate on April 18. The press conference was held at the Newmarket Town Office where a controversial application has been filed that would add more than 700 additional housing units to the Glenway Estates community.
“As currently written, the Places to Grow Act and the Growth Plan provide that a significant portion of new growth is to take place through intensification in existing built-up areas,” said Klees. “The result is that the quality of life and the very character of existing communities can be negatively affected, not to mention the impact on property values and the strain on the infrastructure of the community”.
“That’s why I am proposing to amend the Places to Grow Act through my Private Members Bill to provide that where an application is made that would increase the number of housing units in an existing community or extend that intensification to lands designated as Parks and Open Space, the decision made by a municipal council will be final and can not be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.”
Klees pointed out that the amendments he is proposing would not prevent an applicant from working with a municipal council to come to reasonable terms on a proposed development, but that it would be the local council that would have the final decision, not the Ontario Municipal Board.
“The amendment I’m proposing will not only empower municipal councils to make the final decision about what their community should be, but it also makes those councillors accountable to their electorate for their decisions,” said Klees. “No more hiding behind the OMB or blaming provincial policy.”
“The character of our communities should be decided by the people elected to make those decisions, not by an OMB panel,” concluded Klees.
Municipal Resolutions in Support of Bill 41
Aurora: Mayor Geoffrey Dawe, May 14, 2013
Aylmer: Mayor Jack Couckuyt May 6 2013
Burlington: Mayor Rick Goldring, April 23, 2013
Cochrane: Letter of support for Bill 41 Mayor Peter Politis April 19 2013
King: Mayor Steve Pellegrini May 10, 2013
Markham: Mayor Frank Scarpitti May 13, 2013
Mississauga:Councillor Pat Mullin City of Mississauga Letter of Support and Resolution Passed by City of Mississauga
Newmarket: Resolution approved by Council endorsing the intent of the Bill 41 April 15, 2013
Oakville: Mayor Rob Burton April 16, 2013
Leeds and the Thousand Islands: resolution to support Bill 41 April 29, 2013
Richmond Hill: Supporting Bill 41 June 10, 2013
Uxbridge: Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor April 22, 2013
Whitchurch-Stouffville: Mayor Wayne Emmerson, May 22, 2013
Articles/letters in Support
Article by Alison Collins-Mrakas as published in the Aurora April 9th 2013.
Growth, is good, says Hazel McCallion – within Limits Article in the Star March 27, 2013
City wants to limit Appeals to OMB Mississauga.com news article by Chris Clay
Glenway Preservation Association letter to Mayors April 5, 2013
Unionville Villagers Association, President Reid McAlpine June 4, 2013
The Honourable Jeff Leal, Minister of Rural Affairs June 3, 2013
NEWs clips
In Newmarket, a suburban dream goes off course as developers buy golf club’s front nine. By Alex Ballingall Toronto Star June 6 2013
Tory bill to shield cities from OMB appeals advances By Ashley Csanady QP Briefing April 18 2013
