In the past 15 years…

In the past 15 years Southern Ontario has lost more than 6,500 hectares of wetlands and in just five years (2011 to 2016) Ontario lost more than 320,000 acres of agricultural land (175 acres per day). These losses are unsustainable and it is clear that our current patterns of urban growth are unaffordable - not only from the perspective of infrastructure, servicing, and transportation costs but also from the global climate change perspective.

While Waterloo Region has been a leader on Smart Growth, we all need to be doing even better. The Growth Plan needs to be strengthened - not weakened. We need:

- stricter, evidence-based planning
- not easier settlement boundary area expansions,
- not reductions to density targets,
- nor a move away from creating complete, compact, sustainable communities.

Community and environmental groups in Waterloo Region are optimistic that the province of Ontario will continue to be a leader in planning and Smart Growth, however, these amendments are moving us backwards to the 1970’s and not forwards to the compact, walkable, transit supported communities that we need.

There are considerable concerns in Ontario municipalities about the potential impacts of these amendments and how loopholes could be exploited. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture reminds us that 40 hectares is the size of an average farm and that every 40ha exemption is another full farm lost.

We need to ensure firm, permanent urban boundaries that set long-tern land use planning expectations - it is essential if the Greenbelt, our Waterloo Protected Countryside, Regional Countryside Line, or other designations are going to succeed. Land swaps, rounding out, boundary adjustments, or settlement boundary area expansions can not be permitted or the entire system is undermined with lethal consequences.

As discussed with Bill 66, there is no shortage of employment or residential lands with most municipalities having years of supply already designated and and some having a considerable oversupply - particularly as population growth projections continue to fall short such as in Brantford where recent population growth has been 46% less than anticipated. Waterloo Region continues to fall short of growth expectations as well.

Waterloo Region needs to continue to show the province Smart Growth leadership and we all should be aiming for even higher - not lower standards. Our local success is showing what can be achieved anywhere in Ontario. Our progressive planning has resulted in thriving rural landscapes and dynamic urban areas.

These provincial Growth Plan amendments are going in the wrong direction – weakening our planning principles and guidelines. They will not increase the supply of housing or reduce land prices and are committing us to decades more of sprawl, costing us valuable farmland/greenspace and threatening our water supplies.

Please keep the current standards and increase – not decrease the density targets.