The proposed changes to the…

The proposed changes to the Growth Plan need to be modified to protect more than just PEZ.

The changes protects some employment lands yet makes others vulnerable. The establishment of Provincially Significant Employment Zones confers stronger protections on these lands which is a good thing.

The changes make employment lands that don’t have these designation more vulnerable to conversion to mixed use or residential.

In Hamilton for example, lands designated as employment areas have come under significant pressure from land-owners and developers to reclassify land as residential or mixed used. This makes the land more valuable but encourages sprawl and does nothing to increase badly needed employment.

The proposed changes need to be enhanced to prevent easy conversion of lands from employment to residential.