TORONTO – NDP MPPs for Toronto Suze Morrison (Toronto Centre), Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale), Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale-High Park), Faisal Hassan (York South-Weston), Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth), Jill Andrew (Toronto-St.Paul’s), Doly Begum (Scarborough Southwest), Marit Stiles (Davenport), Tom Rakocevic (Humber River-Black Creek), and Chris Glover (Spadina-Fort York) released the following statement urging the Ford government to resume bylaws to restore the authority of municipalities to set their own construction noise bylaws:
“After more than 18 months of immense community pressure, it’s time for Ford to back down from this favour to his developer buddies, and allow our construction noise bylaws to resume.
Ever since Doug Ford decided to override the city's authority to limit construction activity in April 2020, residents living near residential and commercial construction sites have been contacting our offices with complaints of bothersome construction noise morning and night. People are exhausted and distressed; many residents have been working from home during the pandemic, and have had no reprieve from the constant noise.
Ford used the cover of the pandemic to pass Ontario Regulation 130/20, which prevents the City from limiting non-essential construction noise between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., daily. Toronto's existing noise bylaw limited non-essential construction to between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Extending construction hours has benefited Ford’s buddies at the expense of nearby residents, and we are calling on Ford to consider the negative impact that months of constant construction noise has had on the health and well-being of residents. He cannot extend construction hours any longer.
NDP MPPs have raised their concerns with the Premier regarding the untenable increase in construction noise multiple times. In October 2020, MPPs Jessica Bell (University Rosedale) and Chris Glover (Spadina-Fort York) tabled a motion calling on the government to immediately restore authority to municipalities to set their own construction noise bylaws."