In my experience as a municipal councillor before my current role here in Ottawa, I heard a lot of residents come to council saying, “Listen, you're driving us to a point where it's easier for us to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission”. And I'd hate to see that standard applied when we're trying to approve public works of a significant nature across Canada.
It seems to me--and I think I'm supported by other members at this committee--that a system of fines, provided they're substantial enough to be a deterrent, is something we'd still want to leave in the legislation to make sure we don't have to just use the severest form of penalty, which is demolition.