Expanding construction in…

Expanding construction in the Greenbelt will have a negative impact not just on the local environment but also the water quality across the GTA and Lake Ontario waterfront. It will also negatively impact GTA flood risk. Ontario Conservation authorities do a wonderful job as stewards of these environments and help keep our cities healthy and safe- reducing their role in protecting the GTA watersheds is reckless.
Toronto absolutely needs to accommodate population growth, but this should be done by critically examining zoning and car-centric planning laws. Our expansion should not be a continuation of the 1960s model of single family homes in neighbourhoods that are only accessible by car. We need more walkable, desirable, mixed-use neighbourhoods built around public and frequently running train, streetcar, and subway lines. We need more low-rise apartment options- “the missing middle”. We have a lot of work to do in increasing our urban density before increasing our urban sprawl. Let’s start by getting rid of existing laws that make highly desirable car-free neighbourhoods like the Toronto Islands illegal to build on the mainland. As transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gases in the province, this step will be essential in Toronto reaching its plans of net zero by 2040.