Doug Ford has to make it clear: Is he for the people or for the developers?

The Premier has a lot of explaining to do. What hasn’t helped this pro-developer image is his government’s recent legislation, the “Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act.” This law takes away the voices of ordinary citizens (third parties) to challenge municipal plans and zoning changes at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

These hearings usually take place in a courtroom-like setting and individuals or citizens groups presenting their views have, in the past, needed an experienced and costly lawyer to navigate the complex rules and procedures. But since Ford’s new law he passed in June this year, no third party appeals can be heard at the OLT. Very concerning for a premier who sold himself to us as a leader for the people.

Residents who object to the excessive height of a 90-storey condo building in their neighbourhood, for example, or the elimination of medical labs or doctor’s offices, should be able to be heard in the planning process, even if their views are rejected in the end. People who’ve had to take an issue to court to get it resolved are more likely to accept a negative outcome, if they think they’ve had a fair trial and a fair chance to be heard.

To see the process as open and fair is key. “Justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done,” as the famous justice Lord Hewitt quote goes. How can you see the process as fair if you’ve been excluded from it at the outset?

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra said the purpose of the new legislation is to “remove obstacles” and cut red tape to build more homes faster. So it seems citizens are obstacles and red tape to be removed from the process. But these are the very people politicians will be asking to vote for them in the next election.

To find out what people want in particular areas of the city, why they moved there in the first place, it might be important to ask them and bring more of what consumers are asking for at prices they can afford.

There are multiple approved condo towers in midtown Toronto at the moment, which have few buyers, while local amenities are being forced away and neither current residents or newcomers seem happy with the offerings. There’s a disconnect between what city officials and developers are planning and what consumers want, or can afford. Why not get more consumer input into housing problems then, and open discussions with all stakeholders, instead of legislating certain voices into silence?

Even if citizen views are not accepted in the final planning decisions, the fact that they’ve been heard is part of our democracy and part of building trust in our institutions. To eliminate third party appeals gives the impression the process may be rigged in favour of one party. It’s clothed in all the language of building more homes faster, cheaper, and cutting red tape, but it turns out part of the red tape being cut out is the public’s voice.

In the midst of a housing crisis, this is a time when government needs to build public trust, not further decrease it, especially in the aftermath of the Greenbelt scandal, where developers seem to have had very effective political connections at Queen’s Park.

Once broken, trust is hard to gain back. Preventing the public from speaking out in the planning process may encourage more people to speak out at election time. In the pemier’s own words, best not to throw your friends under the bus.