Now that two provincial governments have taken steps to
streamline municipal decision-making on priority issues, maybe
it's time for municipal governments to consider whether, in the
public interest, they themselves should examine ways to streamline
other municipal processes.
In both Ontario and Nova Scotia, provincial governments have
dramatically changed the balance of power, ensuring that, on a
limited range of priority issues, public consultations and appeals
are eliminated in favour of timely decisions and speedy
execution.
Ontario made its change by, in narrow circumstances, giving a
number of mayors sweeping executive power on matters deemed of
urgent importance. In Nova Scotia, the provincial government
inserted itself to ensure that, on major housing development
matters in Halifax, city council, and the process of public
consultation and possible appeals, were sacrificed in favour of
quick decisions made by a special task force to bring more housing
to
