On February 27, the City of Burlington released that the Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL – also known as the “Downtown Development Freeze”) will remain in effect and will not end on March 5, as was previous reported by the City of Burlington. This is due to appeals filed with the City Clerk.

The City of Burlington received 31 appeals for both Official Plan Amendment 119 and Zoning Bylaw Amendment 2020.418. To view the amendments provided on February 6, please click the buttons below:

The ICBL will remain in effect until the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) has issued a final decision on each appeal of Zoning By-law Amendment 2020.418.

The recommendations from the findings of the ICBL study include proposed amendments to Burlington’s current in-force-and-effect Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw. The staff recommendation report and proposed amendments can be viewed online at www.burlington.ca/icbl.

The City is also working closely with Halton Region to confirm with the Province the requirements and next steps for approval of changes to the Downtown Urban Growth Centre (UGC) and Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) designations. City Council has directed the Chief City Planner to report back in May 2020 with recommendations.

The City will share more information on the ICBL appeal process and timelines as they become available, as well as details about the nature of the appeals. Residents can stay up-to-date by visiting the City website at www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/interim-control-bylaw-icbl.asp.

On February 19, the Government of Ontario passed two amendments to Bill 145, the Trust in Real Estate Act (“TRESA”) at Committee that address two major concerns of REALTORS®: new regulations on advertising and reducing standard forms red tape.

New Regulations on Advertising, re: Salesperson and REALTOR®

First, OREA asked that the term “salesperson” in REBBA be replaced with the term that more accurately reflects the role that REALTORS® play when representing consumers during one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

The Minister of Government and Consumer Services has committed to bringing forward a regulation to permit registrants to use the terms “REALTOR®” or “real estate agent” in their advertising to consumers. The Minister will amend this regulation to permit the use of REALTOR® or agent in addition to salesperson.

Reducing Standard Forms Red Tape

The second amendment clarifies that only specific forms enshrined in regulation may be approved by RECO. Every year, countless changes to Standard Forms are required to ensure that they accurately reflect the real estate landscape in the province. The Minister noted it is her preference that both OREA and RECO work together to strengthen buyer and seller representation agreements. This change will avoid additional red tape and ensure that necessary changes to OREA’s Standard Forms are made in a timely manner.

Please note that none of these changes have yet to be passed into law.

Next Steps:

The next steps for TRESA is a third reading back in the Legislature, final passage and proclamation. It is also important to note that most sections of the Act will require supporting regulations before they come into effect.

On January 30, RAHB attended and sponsored the Burlington Mayor’s State of the City Address, where RAHB President Kathy Della-Nebbia had the pleasure of introducing Mayor Meed Ward.

In Mayor Meed Ward’s address, she touched upon several topics: community pride, business activity, what has been done, and what is to come.

Business activity: Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force & Burlington One Brand Project

Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force

Mayor Meed Ward discussed how Burlington City Council has implemented the recommendations developed as part of the Mayor’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force initiatives. These were developed to help grow and retain business in Burlington, and attract new talent to the city. For more information on the Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force, please click the button below:

Burlington One Brand Project

Mayor Meed Ward also discussed that in the near future, Burlington City Council will be launching the Burlington One Brand Project that will help position Burlington to compete for investments, increase tourism and attract new businesses. For more information about the Burlington One Brand Project, please click the button below:

What has been done and what is to come?

Vision to Focus

Mayor Meed Ward discussed how Burlington City Council has broken down the 25-year Strategic Plan into key goals and strategic actions that can be accomplished within the council’s four-year term. For more information on Vision to Focus, please click the button below:

Interim Control Bylaw

Mayor Meed Ward discussed how Burlington wants to control pressures of over development in the downtown core, while remaining open for business. Mayor Meed Ward explained the focus of the Interim Control Bylaw (ICB)*, which froze development in around the major transit stations and Burlington GO Stations for one year. The ICB was focused on height and density. For more information on the ICB, please click the button below:

*To be lifted on March 5, 2020

Climate Action Plan

Mayor Meed Ward discussed how Burlington City Council declared a climate emergency, which has resulted in Burlington creating its first City of Burlington Climate Action Plan. The function of the action plan is to create a net-zero carbon emissions city. For more information about the City of Burlington Climate Action Plan, please click the button below:

2020 Budget

Mayor Meed Ward discussed the approval of the 2020 budget with a 3.99 per cent increase in the City’s portion of property taxes and an overall tax increase of 2.44 per cent – the lowest tax increase in years. For more information on the 2020 budget, please click the button below:

Q&A Session

To end the Burlington Mayor State of the City Address, Mayor Meed Ward answered questions from the crowd. Mayor Meed Ward was asked about housing affordability, and emphasized that it will be the next biggest issue on the horizon for Burlington City Council.

The City of Burlington is hosting a series of public information session to help residents and businesses learn about the newly adopted Private Tree Bylaw.

Registration for the information sessions is not required and will be held on:

• Tuesday, February 18, 2020
  Appleby Ice Centre, Community Room 1
  1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 19, 2020
  Central Arena, Auditorium
  1 to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 19, 2020
  Burlington Seniors’ Centre, Freeman and Indian Point Rooms
  7 to 9 p.m.
• Thursday, February 20, 2020
  Aldershot Arena, Community Room
  7 to 9 p.m.

About the Private Tree Bylaw

As of January 27, 2020, anyone within Burlington’s urban boundary will need to apply for a permit and on-site consultation:

• To remove a tree greater than 20 cm in diameter measured at 1.4 m from the ground;
• To remove more than five trees between 10 and 20 cm in diameter at 1.4 m from the ground in a calendar year;
• To potentially remove heritage trees and endangered species; and
• To complete work on a tree that could potentially cause harm.

To apply for a permit or to read the full bylaw, please click the button below:

Recommendations from the findings of the ICBL Land Use Study approved by Council.

On January 30, 2020, Burlington City Council approved the revised recommendations from the findings of the Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) Land Use Study, including the approval of the proposed Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments resulting from the ICBL Land Use Study.

If no appeals are received, the ICBL will end on March 5, 2020.

The purpose of the proposed Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments is to:

• Strengthen the integrations between land use and transit by introducing policies related to transit-supportive development;
• Introduce the concept of Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) and a policy framework – MTSAs include the Burlington and Aldershot GO Stations, as well as the John Street Bus Terminal;
• Introduce development criteria for development applications within the study area;
• Update or add definitions to the Official Plan to align with provincial policy documents and assist in the interpretation of Official Plan policies; and
• Introduce additional permitted use, height requirements and other policies on lands near the Burlington GO Station.

To review the timeline, actions and recommendations of the ICBL, as well as Council minutes and reports, please click the button below:

The Burlington City Council Planning and Development Committee is holding a discussion on the re-examination of the downtown policies in the adopted Official Plan on December 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and reconvening at 6:30 p.m. at Burlington City Hall in Council Chambers.

At the meeting, City staff will:

• Provide an overview of the project.
• Present a report, PB-89-19: Taking a Closer Look at Downtown: Concepts Discussion, that highlights the themes, principles and land-use concepts developed to show two possible concepts for how downtown Burlington could accommodate growth and development in the future.
• Share a preliminary review of the public feedback received to date and preliminary directions.

Notice of Open Houses 

The City of Hamilton is holding a second round of Open Houses related to GRIDS 2 and MCR. The dates and times can be found below:

The Open Houses will focus on the following topic areas:

• Residential Intensification and Greenfield Area Density Targets;
• Employment Land Review; and,
• Evaluation criteria for future growth options.

What are GRIDS and GRIDS 2?

In 2006, City Council approved the first Growth Related Integrated Development Strategy (GRIDS). GRIDS is an integrated planning process that identified a broad land use structure, associated infrastructure, economic development strategy and financial implications for growth options to serve Hamilton for 30 years. GRIDS planned for growth up to 2031. 

GRIDS 2 is an update to the City of Hamilton’s growth strategy that will plan for growth in employment and population; as well as, how this growth will impact Hamilton’s infrastructure and how it can be accommodated. It is projected that Hamilton will see an increase in 40,000 jobs and 100,000 people. GRIDS 2’s growth strategy is planned for the years 2031 to 2041. 

What is MCR?

A municipal comprehensive review (MCR) is a process that brings together the City of Hamilton’s Official Plans and updated Provincial Plans into conformity. Many of the studies that are required as part of the MCR is also part of Hamilton’s growth strategy – GRIDS 2.  As a result, MCR must be completed concurrently with GRIDS 2. 

Trudeau’s federal cabinet has grown by two spots reaching 36 members this term. Below is a full list of the new cabinet. We have noted the cabinet ministers who are from RAHB’s market area at the top

RAHB-area cabinet ministers:

• Karina Gould: Minister of International Development
• Filomena Tassi: Minister of Labour.

And the remainder of Trudeau’s new cabinet is as follows:

• Chrystia Freeland: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Minister Affairs.
• Anita Anand: Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
• Navdeep Bains: Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
• Carolyn Bennett: Minister of Crown-Indigenous relations.
• Marie-Claude Bibeau: Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food
• Bill Blair: Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
• Bardish Chagger: Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth.
• Francois-Philippe Champagne: Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• Jean-Yves Duclos: President of the Treasury Board.
• Mona Fortier: Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance.
• Marc Garneau: Minister of Transport.
• Steven Guilbeault: Minister of Canadian Heritage.
• Patty Hajdu: Minister of Health.
• Ahmed Hussen: Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
• Melanie Joly: Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.
• Bernadette Jordan: Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
• David Lametti: Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
• Dominic LeBlanc: President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.
• Diane Lebouthillier: Minister of National Revenue.
• Lawrence MacAulay: Minister of Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of Defense.
• Catherine McKenna: Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
• Marco E. L. Mendicino: Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
• Marc Miller: Minister of Indigenous Services.
• Maryam Monsef: Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development.
• Bill Morneau: Minister of Finance.
• Joyce Murray: Minister of Digital Government.
• Mary Ng: Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade.
• Seamus O’Regan: Minister of Natural Resources.
• Carla Qualtrough: Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.
• Pablo Rodriguez: Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
• Harjit Sajjan: Minister of National Defense.
• Deb Schulte: Minister of Seniors.
• Dan Vandal: Minister of Northern Affairs.
• Jonathan Wilkinson: Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
• Jim Carr: the Prime Minister’s special representative for the Prairies.

Below is an overview of the promotions, demotions and cabinet rookies.

Promotions

Demotions

Cabinet Rookies

If you have any questions regarding the government relations efforts of RAHB, please contact Wendy in the RAHB Office at wendys@rahb.ca or 905.529.8101 x295.

On November 19, Bill 145, the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019 was introduced into legislation. If passed, Bill 145 will:

• Permit personal real estate corporations;
• Protect multiple representation; and,
• Enable specialist certification.

RAHB is encouraging all members to e-mail your MPP asking them to vote YES in support of Bill 145.