Proposal to Amend the…

Proposal to Amend the Planning Act and Development Charges Act (ERO #025-0380)

At a time of accelerating climate collapse and biodiversity loss, Ontario should be strengthening environmental protections—not dismantling them in the name of rushed development. The proposed amendments risk decimating vital safeguards for our few remaining green spaces, wetlands, and natural heritage systems. This is dangerously short-sighted.

Key Concerns:

Climate and Ecological Crisis Demands More Protection, Not Less

Healthy ecosystems are not "red tape"; they are our lifelines. Wetlands filter water, forests sequester carbon, and green spaces mitigate urban heat islands. Sacrificing these for expedited development ignores the irreversible costs of ecological degradation.

Ontario has already lost 70% of its wetlands in settled areas. Further erosion of protections will worsen flooding, water quality issues, and habitat loss.

Housing Solutions Should Not Come at the Expense of Sustainability

The claim that environmental reviews are the primary barrier to housing is misleading. Ontario has ample underutilized land (e.g., vacant lots, inefficient zoning) without targeting ecologically sensitive areas.

We have more vacant housing units than unhoused people. The problem is affordability and speculation—not a lack of developable land.

Developers’ Convenience ≠ Public Interest

If current environmental protocols are "too burdensome," developers should adapt—not lobby to lower standards. Responsible development integrates ecological stewardship. We cannot build a sustainable future by racing to the bottom.

Demands:

Withdraw amendments that weaken environmental oversight.

Prioritize development on already-disturbed land, not greenfields or natural heritage systems.

Strengthen protections for wetlands, woodlands, and watersheds to meet climate targets.

Ontario’s future depends on clean water, resilient ecosystems, and livable communities—not unchecked sprawl. This proposal undermines all three.