"Premier Doug Ford’s government is changing development rules to speed up work on four key transit projects for the Greater Toronto Area, but opposition critics say the new legislation could trample on the environment and homeowners’ rights.
Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney introduced the bill — dubbed the Building Transit Faster Act — at the provincial legislature Feb. 18, pledging it will apply only to four transit projects announced by the government last year.
Mulroney said the legislation, if passed, would streamline land expropriation, co-ordinate utility relocation, and expedite the environmental assessment process for the projects.
“It is critical that we address our transit capacity as quickly as possible,” she said. “The legislation I’ve introduced today is about cutting the unnecessary red tape and redundant steps that hold up major transit projects.”
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