Ontario needs more houses…

Ontario needs more houses. We all are aware of that fact. However, we should NOT be using prime farmland to do so. The cost of food is sky high right now, and being able to supply food to feed our country should be high on the list of important things to make sure we are doing. We import a lot of food, but I always buy local wherever possible, and I love seeing produce and such in the grocery tore that was grown near me.
I am surprised there are not better plans in place for the creation of more houses. We are letting developers dictate how the plan is unfolding (as far as I can see).
In areas that are seeing the most growth, why do we not have a team of economists, city engineers, tradesmen, architects, designers, etc that come up with plans to create more living spaces in the most economical way. While simultaneously making sure there is enough greenspace, social services and infrastructure to support the added density and THEN have developers bid on the projects. Creating not only condos, but semi and fully detached houses, with detached houses being created with multi-generational living in mind. Use people who work and live in that city to come up with the plans. These are people who drive in the areas that they will planning in and are more aware of existing issues in the area than some developer who has their eye on the profit margin instead of what would benefit the city as a whole (like how in the city of Barrie, there are not enough day camp slots, or day care services, or enough resources for shelter to house the homeless). As someone who works in renovations, is passionate about space planning, and would like to be able to afford a house some time in this century, I would LOVE to work on a project like this.
But all of that should not come at the expense of our farm land or what SHOULD be protected natural spaces. These help us be able to feed our own citizens, keep temperatures down, give animals places to live, and keep our air and water clean. Don't turn the province into a concrete wasteland in order to turn a buck.