School Boards Challenge City's Housing Plan

0:00It's March 25. You're listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news. Toronto's public and Catholic school boards are challenging a city council vote that blocks school properties for mid-rise housing plans along major streets. They file an appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal, seeking to include their lands in the zones for buildings up to 14 stories high, a hearing on the matter is set for next week. The fight stems from the city's new push to fast track housing on key avenues with good transit access. This pilot program started in wards 9 and 11, covering streets like Austin, and lands down avenues. City staff originally backed adding school sites, but council pulled them out in December after pushback. Parents and neighborhood groups are up in arms, fearing boards might sell off extra space like playgrounds or parking lots if enrollment drops. They point to provincial oversight that could force surplus declarations. Parents counter that they have no sales planned and just need options to adapt sites for

1:00growing student needs. The boards want more properties added, like those near Oakwood Collegiate and Regal Road Junior Public School. They argue re-designation protects land value without forcing any disposals. The Catholic board pushes for fair, consistent rules across all sites. Meanwhile, Ontario's Education Minister supports the appeal, saying boards must safeguard assets and that he'd intervene if they didn't. But the case management conference on April 8th, this early clash test, Toronto's housing speed up against protecting community school spaces.