into areas of decision making that formerly were the responsibility of
municipalities. They include individual development proposals that may
or may not have any support from local governments or the public.
For example, the Minster issued four orders in one day in April and then another seven in August. The
April orders included approval of the destruction of three small
protected wetlands to make way for a large warehouse and distribution
centre in Vaughan and another to allow a retirement community to be
built on farmland in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville. One of the
MZOs issued in August in the Caledon area approves a major new
development that is strongly opposed by the Peel Regional government.
In
addition to undermining and by-passing democratic decision making at
the municipal level, the overuse of MZOs sends a message to developers
that they can get approvals without having to worry about pesky issues
like road access, water and sewer infrastructure, protection of the
environment or whether new housing or businesses are actually wanted or
needed by a community.