EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Greenbelt Act, 2005 to provide that the Greenbelt Plan is deemed to prohibit, in all of the Greenbelt Area, the erection, location and use of buildings or structures for the purposes of any new controlled-access highways. A consequential amendment is made to section 9 of the Act. Section 16 of the Act is amended to restrict the Minister from making an order under either that section or section 47 of the Planning Act that would have the effect of contravening the prohibition on controlled-access highways.

Bill 110 2023

An Act to amend the Greenbelt Act, 2005 to provide for a prohibition on controlled-access highways in the Greenbelt Area and make related amendments

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 Section 6 of the Greenbelt Act, 2005 is amended by adding the following subsection:

Prohibition re controlled-access highways

(3)  The Greenbelt Plan is deemed to prohibit, in all of the Greenbelt Area, the erection, location and use of buildings or structures for the purposes of a controlled-access highway, with the exception of any controlled-access highways already in use on the day the No More Highways in the Greenbelt Act, 2023 receives Royal Assent.

2 Subsection 9 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “any of the areas designated as Protected Countryside in the Greenbelt Plan” in the portion before clause (a) and substituting “the Greenbelt Area”.

3 Section 16 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Prohibition on controlled access highways

(4)  Despite subsections (1) to (3) and section 47 of the Planning Act, the Minister may not make an order under subsection (1) of this section or under section 47 of the Planning Act that would have the effect of contravening the prohibition set out in subsection 6 (3) of this Act.

Commencement

4 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

5 The short title of this Act is the No More Highways in the Greenbelt Act, 2023.