The Ministry of the Attorney General is seeking feedback on a new proposal to increase the fees and set a flat fee structure for the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). If approved, the fee to institute a new proceeding at the OMB will be increased from $125 to $300. The current rate has been in place for approximately 25 years, and the proposed increase would allow the OMB to recover approximately 8% of its operating costs, up from 3% under the current rate. A reduced fee of $25 would still apply in limited circumstances, including:

• Every additional consent appeal filed by the same appellant in relation to connected consent applications, and
• Every additional variance appeal filed by the same appellant in relation to connected variance application

Interested parties have until May 1, 2016 to submit comments on this proposal. Find out more here.