Ontario Proposing to Grow the Greenbelt By Harinder Malhi, MPP, Brampton Springdale

As many people are aware the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) is Canada’s largest economic engine and one of the fastest growing regions in North America. Around 13.5 million people, working in 6.3 million jobs, are expected to live in the GGH by 2041. We need to continue to plan for the future in order to support this growth. We need to ensure communities are well-connected with modern infrastructure and accessible transit. Communities where Ontarians can work and play, go to school and shop all in the same area.

Recognizing these needs, the Ontario government began a co-ordinated review of the four plans that impact the region – the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan. These four plans need to work together to ensure we have the right policies in place to create the conditions for economic growth in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. They need to work together to build complete communities, manage growth, curb sprawl, protect the natural environment and support economic development.

The co-ordinated review of these plans began over a year ago. Members of the public, municipalities, organizations and many stakeholders – from farmers and developers to environmental organizations and members of First Nations and Metis communities – have provided feedback on how the plans are performing and how they may be improved.

We are now releasing the proposed changes to the four land use plans which include changes that would:

• Set transit-oriented density targets for better commute times and reduced traffic congestion. Proposed compact development would curb urban sprawl and lead to walkable communities that make efficient use of public infrastructure. Compact, complete communities are more energy efficient and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
• Identify existing and planned transit and transportation corridors so that suitable development can occur around them and the the corridors will be protected for the quick and efficient movement of goods and people, now and in the future.
• Require municipalities to better integrate land use planning with infrastructure and transit to maximize the value of these investments.

We are proposing to grow the Greenbelt by adding the lands within 21 major urban river valleys, including Etobicoke Creek and the Credit and Humber Rivers which flow through Brampton and connect the Greenbelt to Lake Ontario. We are also establishing a process for further expanding the Greenbelt to protect key water features.

We will continue to develop communities that support our thriving economy by managing and directing growth where it can best be accommodated, supported with infrastructure, amenities and public space – for example, in existing built-up areas along transit lines and in our downtown areas – to foster the conditions investors and businesses need to create jobs in a changing, more knowledge-based economy.

The Ontario government is now seeking your comments and feedback on the proposed amendments to the Growth and Greenbelt plans. Please visit: www.ontario.ca/landuseplanningreview to learn more about the 11 Public Open Houses taking place in May and June; or to submit or upload your feedback and comments using online e-form by September 30, 2016.

There is also information about commenting through the:

• Environmental Bill of Rights Registry www.ontario.ca/ebr;
• Regulatory Registry at www.ontariocanada.com/registry; and
• Mailing address for the Land Use Planning Review.

We believe the proposed amendments would develop a smarter growth model and build complete communities in the region. Complete communities where homes, jobs, schools, services, parks and recreation facilities are all easily accessible and communities that support everyone – young and old, rich and poor. Complete communities are the only way we can ensure an economically and environmentally sustainable future as we confront climate change together.