Dear Ontario, I do not…

Dear Ontario,

I do not support the changes to the Growth Plan, for the following reasons:

Promotes Sprawl Driven Planning – by weakening the ‘standardized’ land needs assessment
methodology just put in place by the province in early 2018.

Makes Urban Boundary Expansions Easier & Less Planned – by allowing urban boundary
expansions in 40ha increments outside of the proper and holistic land needs assessment/ municipal
comprehensive review process. Also unclear – who can initiate these expansions.

Weakens Greenfield Density Targets & Strengthens Urban Intensification Targets – in Hamilton
– greenfield areas can be more sprawly under the rules – requirement reduced from a minimum of 80
people & jobs per ha down to a minimum of 60 people and jobs per ha of land.

Protects Some Employment Lands & Makes Others Vulnerable – establishment of Provincially
Significant Employment Zones confers stronger protections on these lands - a good thing – but
makes employment lands that don’t have this designation more vulnerable to conversion to mixed-use or residential. We need to employ good planning to use the land that is sitting empty in cities already. Why not copy Chicago and create an architectural interest plan that would draw in tourism by showcasing beautiful and unique buildings?

No Tools to Create More New Affordable Housing – This is a huge problem in Hamilton and other municipalities, but I don't see clearly any tools to actually change it.

Removes All Growth Plan References to Climate Change - So, it's 2019. I truly think Governments aren't facing our climate issues because they are SO large, it seems insurmountable. But the cost of doing nothing is huge.

The Paris Agreement that Canada committed to: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-a…

NASA: https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

Nunavut Climate Change Centre: https://www.climatechangenunavut.ca/en/understanding-climate-change/cli…