City wants OMB abolished
June 23, 2011
The City of Mississauga is calling on Queen’s Park to abolish the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) and instead empower elected municipal officials to solve planning and development disputes.
Council voted unanimously yesterday in support of Ward 2 Councillor Pat Mullin’s motion calling on the City to contact Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rick Bartolucci to request an amendment to the “Planning Act to abolish the OMB and that decisions of municipal councils are only appealable to the courts on questions of law.”
The motion also stated that, “it is manifestly undemocratic for an appointed board such as the OMB to substitute its opinions for the considered judgement of elected councillors on matters affecting municipalities in which the councillors will continue to live and in which the OMB has no ongoing presence.”
It also stated that the minister should adjust the Planning Act so that decisions by committees of adjustment be appealable to municipal councils.
Mullin said her constituents are still living with “poor decisions” made by the OMB. One of her concerns is that decisions are being foisted upon municipalities by non-elected officials.
“They’re (OMB) not elected, they’re not accountable, and we are,” said Mullin. “The buck stops here. We’re in our community, we know our community and while we might not always support our community in terms of an application, they have (the) opportunity to get rid of us in the next election.”
Ward 1 Councillor Jim Tovey said many developers use the threat of going to the OMB as a negotiating tool. He also expressed concern with the amount of staff time spent preparing to deal with matters that go to the OMB.
However, former City councillor David Culham feels the board serves a valuable role. Culham, who sat as both a Ward 6 councillor and as a member of the OMB, said it’s a public hearing based on evidence rather than emotion and opinion.
Culham said the way to deal with the OMB is to do your homework and be prepared, rather than “pontificating at public meetings.
“The OMB doesn’t create policy, it just interprets the policies of the (municipalities) and the Province,” he added.
Culham noted the OMB’s presence is democratic because it allows citizens, corporations and other bodies to appeal decisions made by municipal councils.
“If you want to have a hearing on planning matters, as opposed to legal, it’s the best option,” said Culham.
cclay@mississauga.net