Ontario Construction News staff writer
With noise complaints increasing across Mississauga and Brampton Peel Regional Council is calling for the province to revoke legislation allowing construction machinery to operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Legislation was passed on April 7, 2020 to temporarily suspend construction related noise by-laws that are controlled by municipalities across Ontario, to allow projects relating to healthcare construction to operate “at all hours” and all other projects to work with extended hours.
The rationale was that extended construction hours would allow for “expedited construction” on key healthcare facilities, such as hospital and long-term care expansions, and enable construction companies to be flexible with hours and adhere to public health regulations.
At a recent regional council meeting, a councillor said construction companies having been taking advantage of new rules to the detriment of residents.
Councillors say it’s time to revoke the legislation that trumps local noise bylaws.
A motion approved unanimously asks Queen’s Park to repeal the legislation and allow municipalities to revert back to the by-law that existed before Covid: construction six days a week, starting at seven am.
The provincial legislation is set to expire in October.