Bill 23 will have…

Bill 23 will have devastating consequences not only for the climate resilience of our cities, but for their equity and their economic competitiveness.
I endorse the arguments that Bill 23 will harm equity in terms of access to greenspace and vulnerability to flooding and heat events as articulated by my colleagues Drs. Michael Drescher and Luna Khirfan, in their article in The Conversation (https://theconversation.com/ontarios-bill-23-proposes-more-homes-built-…).
We believe that it is possible to improve the green infrastructure of new developments within our current housing markets, by creating new information metrics that show the carbon sequestration and stormwater diversion of new developments, then working directly with developers to improve their scores, while maintaining their housing supply goals. When brought to market, this information will help housing consumers make informed decisions about the environmental protection offered by properties, increasing the environmental quality of housing supply without decreasing supply. This work is occurring through the RISE project, lead by professor Drescher, myself, and several others from the University of Waterloo (https://uwaterloo.ca/climate-institute/projects/residential-development…). For the justifications, please see this additional conversation article (https://theconversation.com/residential-green-spaces-protect-growing-ci…).
Finally this bill will harm Ontario's economic competitiveness, driving away highly skilled and highly mobile workers who have the option to live in greener environments. For those who believe in climate change, it is unbearably psychologically devastating to witness irreversible destruction of the natural capital that protects us from the worst impacts of climate change. Many highly skilled workers are talking about leaving the province.
Please see the enclosed letter to the Standing Committee for alternatives to increase housing affordability and supply, without damaging our natural environment. For one obvious point, we need to build on our surface parking lots before we consider destroying the critical green infrastructure that protects us against flooding and heat disasters.
Thank you for your attention.