Ontario's Progressive Conservative government has unveiled the "Get It Done Act," a legislative omnibus bill aiming to expedite infrastructure projects and purportedly enhance affordability for families and businesses. However, opposition parties have swiftly criticized the bill, asserting that it falls short of its promises and serves more as a political spectacle than a substantive policy shift.
Introduced by Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, the bill is framed as a tool to accelerate the construction of crucial transit, housing, and infrastructure projects to accommodate the province's burgeoning population. One of its focal points is the streamlining of environmental assessments, ostensibly to facilitate the rapid development of roads and other essential infrastructure. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for automatic license plate renewals and incorporates requested changes to urban boundaries by municipalities.
Yet, the most contentious aspects of the legislation have drawn skepticism from opposition leaders. Particularly, the requirement for future governments to subject any new provincial carbon pricing system to a referendum has been dismissed as performative. Critics argue that such a measure, while politically charged, lacks practical efficacy, especially considering its potential repeal by subsequent administrations. Similarly, the prohibition of new tolls on provincial highways has been deemed superfluous, as no opposition party has proposed such tolls, and the possibility of reversal by a future government looms large.
Moreover, the bill's title has drawn ire from NDP Leader Marit Stiles, who contends that the government's track record of policy reversals undermines its claim of "getting things done." Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of municipal autonomy in determining urban boundaries and official plans. She highlights past instances of poor consultation with municipalities and advocates for greater local leadership in addressing growth and development challenges.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner goes a step further, branding the bill as the "Get It Done Wrong Act" and condemning it as a distraction from the government's failures in addressing pressing issues such as the housing crisis and healthcare access. Despite the bill's purported aims of expediency and affordability, its reception among opposition parties underscores broader concerns regarding its effectiveness and sincerity.
As the "Get It Done Act" progresses through legislative deliberations, its true impact on Ontario's governance and policy landscape remains uncertain. While the government touts it as a catalyst for progress and efficiency, skepticism lingers regarding its substantive contributions to addressing the province's most pressing challenges. Only time will reveal whether this omnibus bill proves to be a genuine step forward or merely another chapter in the province's political theatre.
Press Room: https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1004202/the-get-it-done-act
