Auditor General opens audit of Ford government’s use of Minister’s Zoning Orders

Dear Ms. Stiles, Mr. Burch and Ms. Shaw,

I am writing in response to your letter dated September 28, 2023 in which you requested my Office conduct an audit of the government’s amendments to municipal official plans, the issuance of Minister’s Zoning Orders and ministerial orders under section 34.1 of the Planning Act, as well as other land use planning decisions affecting specific properties. As part of our normal audit selection process, wewe identified the Province’s process for selecting and approving Minister’s Zoning Orders as an audit and issued a letter to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing commencing this audit on August 30, 2023.

We take inquiries from Members of Provincial Parliament and the public seriously. We will consider the other issues you have raised in our selection process for future audits.

In the meantime, Members can put forward a motion to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts if there is a special audit that they would like conducted by my Office. Under section 17 of the Auditor General Act, I may undertake a special assignment if required to do so by the Assembly, by resolution of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, or by a Minister of the Crown. If the Standing Committee on Public Accounts passed a formal motion for my office to perform an audit, I would comply with that request.

I appreciate you taking the time to contact my Office. If you would like to discuss this further, please give me a call at 416-427-4117.