The Doug Ford government is proposing legislation it could use to force municipalities to supply information so it can expedite its infrastructure projects.
One of them is Ford’s announcements that he wants to build a tunnel under Highway 401 which would obviously impact a lot of municipal water and sewer lines.
The online posting by the government said “this power is intended to only be used where municipal information or data is necessary for the timely delivery of provincially funded projects, and where a municipality has been unwilling to provide this information through voluntary means or good faith negotiations.
“The proposed amendment would help the province ensure that it has the information necessary to determine which municipal lands are needed for a project and what other constraints may exist to accelerate property negotiations and meet project timelines.
“It aims to facilitate faster, more efficient infrastructure development, which can enhance connectivity, reduce congestion, support economic growth, and improve quality of life.”