FUN Letter Opposing GTA West Highway

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

Uxbridge OMB Appeal

62 Mill St. development - Uxbridge

A controversial townhouse development proposed for 62 Mill Street in Uxbridge is slated to go to the Ontario Municipal Board for a decision. When council turned Monday to a report by township planning consultant Elizabeth Howson regarding the proposed development, Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor announced that the applicant has already taken the application to the OMB. “It’s out of our hands,” the mayor said.

FUN Letter re: Victims of Communism Memorial

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).

FoNTRA supports Bill 52 – anti-SLAPP legislation

FoNTRA logo

We are writing in support of Bill 52, Protection of Public Participation Act, 2014 which you introduced in the Ontario Legislature on December 1, 2014. The Bill, which is substantively the same as former Bill 83, was debated for Second Reading on December 10, 2014, and received supportive comments from members of all Parties at that time.

Bill 52 provides an effective response to the problem of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) in Ontario and would prevent the misuse of the courts from SLAPP suits without depriving anyone of appropriate remedies for expression that causes significant harm. It reflects the recommendations of the Anti-SLAPP Advisory Panel that was established four years ago to provide advice on the content of legislation to target SLAPPs.

Capital Region Citizens’ Coalition for the Protection of the Environment Presentation (2014)

CRCCPE presentation to FUN

A presentation made at the 2014 FUN AGM by the Capital Region Citizens’ Coalition for the Environment regarding the proposed Taggart-Miller dump.

The proposed project is not needed, is in a high-­risk location, and is being forced on an unwilling host community – we do not want Taggart-­Miller’s dump (being built for the sole benefit of a private company – at the risk of the local community and the environment)

Response from Minister Jeffrey re: OMB

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

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…

Queen’s Park Report – April 2013

It is time for the Ontario Government to amend both the Municipal Elections Act and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods of Ontario has written to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to ask for immediate action on amending these two Acts.

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

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.