Bill 69, Golden Girls Act, 2019

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Currently the Planning Act provides that the authority to pass by-laws under certain sections of the Act does not include the authority to pass a by-law that has the effect of distinguishing between persons who are related and persons who are unrelated in respect of the occupancy or use of a building or structure or part thereof, including the occupancy or use as a single housekeeping unit. The Bill amends the Act to provide that the rule applies, for greater certainty, in respect of unrelated seniors.

Bill 69 2019

An Act to amend the Planning Act

Preamble

All levels of government should recognize that Ontario has an aging population and should encourage innovative and affordable housing solutions for seniors. Local municipalities should not deter seniors from choosing affordable housing options and should recognize that unrelated seniors living together can reap significant health, economic and social benefits. It is desireable to provide clarity to municipalities that the Planning Act should be interpreted in a way that encourages and permits home sharing by unrelated seniors as a housing solution.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 (1)  Subsection 35 (2) of the Planning Act is amended by adding “including, for greater certainty, unrelated seniors” after “persons who are unrelated”.

(2)  Section 35 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Definition

(4)  In this section,

“senior” means an individual who is 55 or older.

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Golden Girls Act, 2019.