The completion of 45,000…

The completion of 45,000 houses on land previously designated as protected from development will do virtually nothing to alleviate the housing crisis in Ontario. It will provide 3% of the 1.5 million homes Ford has decided are required, not much more than a rounding error. The reality is that Doug Ford lied repeatedly to the people of Ontario when he promised not to allow development of the Greenbelt. His excuse that a housing crisis has suddenly appeared as justification to break his “no development”commitment is ridiculous. Even the most disinterested observer can see the obvious connection between Doug Ford and the local developers who will benefit from the immediate increase in value of the land which they just happened to purchase prior to the recent announcement to destroy more valuable farmland.
The plan to solve the housing crisis through endless urban sprawl has not to my knowledge been successful anywhere in the world. The loss of conservation land and prime farm property is tragic and irreversible once the development of highways and subdivisions begins. Densification in combination with a sensible level of immigration is the only way to balance the supply of housing with demand and provide housing which is actually affordable and within reach of public transit.