The Overhaul Of The OMB

​On May 16, 2017, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Ministry of Attorney General announced legislation that is intended to introduce sweeping changes to the land use planning system in Ontario. In particular, the legislation will seek to replace the Ontario Municipal Board with a "Local Planning Appeal Tribunal". Additional changes include the following:

• the elimination of de novo hearings for the majority of planning appeals and changing the standard of review on appeal. The tribunal will only be able to overturn a municipal decision if it does not follow provincial policies or municipal plans. In those cases, the matter would first be returned to the municipalities for consideration, although the tribunal would retain the authority to make a final decision;