Doug Ford shuts service that helps Ontario citizens fight wealthy developers - 2019-02-22

Doug Ford shuts service that helps Ontario citizens fight wealthy developers February 22, 2019, Fatima Syed, National Observer

---

Doug Ford is dismantling a service meant to help citizens and municipalities stand up to developers — a move critics are calling a blow to local democracy.

The Local Planning Appeal Support Centre (LPASC) was set up in April 2018 under the previous Liberal government to help everyday Ontarians navigate and understand the complex planning appeals process to fight development projects that were inappropriate, unreasonable, misplaced or designed without considering municipal and provincial planning and growth guidelines.

It replaced the Ontario Municipal Board, which, critics said, was too slow and favoured municipalities and developers, as they can afford the cost of lawyers and experts in the development appeal process. The OMB was also criticized for not deferring to local municipalities.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | author = Fatima Syed | title = Doug Ford shuts service that helps Ontario citizens fight wealthy developers | url = https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/02/22/news/doug-ford-shuts-service-helps-ontario-citizens-fight-wealthy-developers | work = National Observer | date = February 22, 2019 | accessdate = April 30, 2019 }}