An Ontario cabinet minister’s letter to big city mayors has sparked a war of words over controversial new housing legislation.

London Mayor Josh Morgan will meet with Ontario’s 28 other Big City Mayors to discuss the province’s new Building More Homes Faster Act, also known as Bill 23.

“This will be an item on our agenda, particularly the minister’s letter and our next steps and approach to it,” explains Morgan.

On Wednesday, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark sent a letter responding to criticism from the big city mayors.

Clark’s letter asserts, “our decision to reign (sic) in unsustainable and out-of-control municipal fees on new homebuyers is the right thing to do, and that is why our position on Bill 23 will not waver.”

Earlier this week the province passed Bill 23 to streamline the approval of new residential development and achieve its goal of 1.5 million new homes over the next decade.

However, critics warn that the act strips municipalities of powers that protect the environment and heritage, as well as reduces the amount of development charges collected on new construction.

London Mayor Josh Morgan rejects the minister’s description of municipal development charges as “unsustainable and out of control.”

“No, I don’t think that’s a proper reflection of the fees,” Morgan tells CTV News. “I can say our fees are calculated in a responsible way and they are very reflective of the infrastructure growth needs we have.”

Keep reading on london.ctvnews.ca

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