Ontario's Premier Accountability Dashboard · Queen's Park Watch
Rob Flack
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Rob Flack is Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. He introduced Bill 100, the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026, which grants the minister direct power to appoint regional chairs across eight Ontario regions. He also introduced Bill 98 (Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026) on March 30, 2026, which would permanently strip Ontario municipalities of the authority to require EV charging, tree canopy, bird-friendly glass, and energy performance standards from developers — delivering a legislative victory to RESCON, the industry lobby simultaneously suing Toronto in court over the same rules.
Connected Scandals
On April 2, 2026, Doug Ford introduced Bill 100, giving his Minister of Municipal Affairs power to directly appoint regional chairs across eight Ontario regions — unelected officials who will have the power to hire and fire senior staff, veto bylaws, and set budgets. Niagara's council would be slashed from 32 to 13 seats. Opposition MPPs called it a continuation of Ford's pattern of replacing elected local democracy with provincial Conservative loyalists.
As Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Flack introduced Bill 100 and is the named official with authority to appoint regional chairs across eight Ontario regions under the new legislation.
Over the objections of more than 14,000 residents, municipalities, and environmental groups, the Ford government is forcing Ontario's 36 conservation authorities — locally funded, elected-representation bodies that manage watersheds, flood control, and natural hazards — to merge into just 9 regional bodies starting May 2026, weakening local accountability and environmental oversight at a time of escalating climate risk.
As Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Flack is responsible for the conservation authority merger legislation and pushed it forward in March 2026 despite widespread opposition from municipalities, environmental groups, and even the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
Ford's Bill 98 would permanently strip Ontario municipalities of the power to require EV charging, tree canopy, bird-friendly glass, and energy standards from developers — handing a legislative victory to RESCON, the industry lobby already suing Toronto in court over the same rules. Cities have already frozen new green standard programs in anticipation.
As Housing Minister, Flack introduced Bill 98 on March 30, 2026, which would permanently remove municipal authority to enforce enhanced green building standards across Ontario — a legislative gift to the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), which was simultaneously suing Toronto in court over the same rules.