FUN ADVOCACY POSITIONS

Letter to Canadian and US Governments re: Radionuclides

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Lake Huron water quality

The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (Ontario) is an umbrella organization of community associations in Ontario which was founded in 2001. Over the past 15 years we have lobbied the provincial and federal governments for more sustainable policies with respect to land use planning, transportation, and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas such as the Oak Ridge Moraine.

We’ve also supported efforts by organizations such as the Canadian Environmental Law Association to protect the great rivers and lakes we are blessed with in Ontario.

On March 2, 2016 you received a petition signed by 110 advocacy groups supporting nomination of radionuclides as a Chemical of Mutual Concern under Annex 3, Part B, Section 2 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 2012.

FUN Letter Opposing GTA West Highway

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March 2, 2016 Hon. Steven Del Duca, MPP Vaughan Minister of Transportation Dear Minister, The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (FUN) Ontario welcomes your announcement https://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2015/12/ontario-to-review-greater-toronto-area-west- corridor-project.html that the Ministry has suspended its work on the environmental assessment of the Greater Toronto Area West Highway Corridor (GTA West). Your announcement goes on to say that this … Read more

FUN Letter re: Victims of Communism Memorial

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I am writing in my capacity as President of the Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (FUN Ontario), with regard to the proposal to construct a “Memorial to the Victims of Communism” adjacent to the Supreme Court of Canada building in Ottawa.

We wish to add our voice to the groundswell of opinion questioning the plans for the Memorial, including the Globe and Mail (Mar. 29 editorial), the Ontario Association of Architects, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mayor Jim Watson of Ottawa and a majority of his Council, the present and former MPs for this area Ottawa Citizen (Oct 20).

Response from Minister Jeffrey re: OMB

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Thank you for your letter of May 16, 2013, in which you provided me with the Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods’ recommendations regarding the Ontario Municipal Board. I also note the Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods’ support of the Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Association’s recommendations regarding the planning system.

I appreciate that the recommendations in your letter are based on the collective experience of a number of residents’ associations. I also note that the recommendations, along with those from the Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Association, cover a range of matters from how planning matters are dealt with before an appeal is made, to funding issues and the Board process.

Letter to Minister Jeffrey re: OMB

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The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods of Ontario Inc., on behalf of its Member Associations and their affiliates, makes the following recommendations regarding the Ontario Municipal Board based upon a survey of urban resident associations:

1. The OMB should be restricted in its powers so that it could only hear an appeal of a development decision by a municipality on the basis that the municipality has contravened federal or provincial legislation, the Provincial Planning Document and/or its Official Plan…

Letter to Premier Wynne re: Municipal Elections Act & Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

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The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods of Ontario Inc. requests that your government take immediate action to amend the Municipal Elections Act and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act to address our concerns about the abuses of, deficiencies in and lack of enforcement of the current Acts.

We would also highlight our strong concern that the Municipal Elections Act be amended to prohibit contributions by corporations and trade unions to municipal candidates.