Parkdale-High Park NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo has renewed her calls to reform the authority of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

DiNovo has tabled a motion advocating that the powers of the OMB be curtailed so that it can no longer run roughshod over decisions made by the democratically-elected Toronto city council.

DiNovo argues that in Toronto, including in her west-end riding, the city’s Official Plan is regularly manipulated by the OMB in favour of large developers over concerns expressed by local residents and ratepayer associations.

“We’re seeing more examples of this,” said DiNovo, “and it’s up to the province to fix this problem. Unfortunately, all we’ve seen from the McGuinty government is inaction, as evidenced by the government’s refusal to intervene in the community’s fight against the proposed big box retail development in Leslieville.”

Last year, DiNovo tabled a similar motion in reaction to what the NDP considered “backwards planning decisions” made for the Queen West Triangle area of Toronto. DiNovo and fellow Toronto NDP MPP Michael Prue were supported by architects, urban designers and community leaders. The McGuinty government ignored their motion.

“The Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs should no longer ignore the voices and concerns of community activists and residents who are being drowned out by the OMB’s pro-developer bias,” said DiNovo.

“The McGuinty government refused to act on the OMB last year and they refuse to act today. In the meantime, Toronto is setting precedence in becoming a dystopia of unaffordable glass hi-rises.”

DiNovo is calling for the provincial government to pass her motion, which has been sitting on the order paper for months.