2 Friday, February 10, 2023brooklintowncrier.com Brooklin's Community Newspaper Proud to be a Brooklinite Since 2000. Published 24 times per year. Editor, Richard Bercuson 613-769-8629 • editorofbtc@gmail.com • Circulation 8000 • Delivery via Canada Post Locally owned and operated. A publication of Appletree Graphic Design Inc. We accept advertising in good faith but do not endorse advertisers nor advertisements. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. For advertising information, contact: Email: mulcahy42@rogers.com Next Issue: Friday, February 24, 2023 Deadline: Friday, February 17, 2023 Brooklin TOWN CRIER.com Monday - Thursday 9:00am-7:00pm Friday 9:00am-5:30pm Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm Sunday Closed Reserve Your Vehicle! 1201 Dundas St. East, Whitby SALES 905-668-5846 SERVICE 905-668-8871 PARTS 905-668-8853 Top Dollar for your Trade Order Sierra 1500 • 2.7 Litre ORDER YOUR PRE-OWNED CAR WITH US! SALES (905) 721-6599 SERVICE (905) 721-6588 PARTS (905) 721-6577 445 Winchester Road East, Brooklin Hyundai - Official Partner of the NHL Swing by to take a practice shot on our Net in the showroom! Check out our Pre-Owned Inventory on our website! Made for Those Who Drive Hockey!Made for Those Who Drive Hockey! L VE L VE YOUR NEW HYUNDAI!YOUR NEW HYUNDAI! Bill 23 is the Province of Ontario's 'More Homes Built Faster Act'. The Province says Bill 23 will increase affordable housing in Ontario by building 1.5 million new homes by 2032 - 18,000 of which are mandated to Whitby. Bill 23 actually means higher property taxes, a reduction in existing services for Whitby residents, and more. Will Bill 23 increase my taxes? Initial analysis shows Bill 23 will cost Whitby taxpayers $34 million per year; shifting costs of growth for things like parks, new roads, and recreational facilities directly from developers to you. This means at least a 30 per cent overall property tax increase; about a $600 property tax increase for an average Whitby home due to the impacts of Bill 23 alone. Will Bill 23 create more affordable housing in Whitby? Bill 23 will create less affordable housing, not more. The Bill does not dictate that developers reduce housing prices by the "savings" created by Bill 23 - the market dictates the price of homes. Any "savings" will go directly to developers, with no guarantee that homes will be built or that they will be affordable. In Whitby, we have about 8,000 homes approved to be built today, but developers aren't building due to labour shortages, supply issues, and more. Bill 23 does not fix this issue. Aren't the Town's fees charged to developers making new homes less affordable? There's a misconception that the Town's development charges and parkland fees are making new homes more expensive. In reality, developers set the price of new homes at the highest amount the market will pay. It's the market - not the fees - that determine the price. Bill 23 does not dictate that developers reduce housing prices by the "savings" created by the Bill. Any "savings" will go directly to developers, with no guarantee that homes will be built or that they will be affordable. In Whitby, we have about 8,000 homes approved to be built today, but developers aren't building due to labour shortages, supply issues, and more. Bill 23 does not fix this issue. Whitby is ready to work with the Province and developers to get houses built, but not at your expense. What does Bill 23 mean for the protection of environmentally sensitive areas in the Ontario? Bill 23 makes radical changes to the important role Conservation Authorities have in the planning process, putting the protection of environmentally sensitive areas at risk. How does Bill 23 impact municipal management of growth? Bill 23 changes municipal governance and planning approvals by removing the tools we need to manage growth responsibly. The Bill eliminates things like public meetings for approval of planned subdivisions. These checks and balances ensure we grow in a manageable way. What impact does Bill 23 have on funding for municipal infrastructure like parks, libraries, and fire halls? Initial analysis shows Bill 23 will cost Whitby taxpayers $34 million per year; shifting costs of growth for things like parks, new roads, and recreational facilities directly from developers to you. Unless offset with a new source of funding, Bill 23 will significantly impact our ability to fund growth and the infrastructure needed to support our growing community. FAQs About Bill 23 (from connectwhitby.ca/budget)