I really believe we need to…

I really believe we need to build more homes and make planning simpler in Ontario. I also believe we need to work to fight climate change by helping cities build homes that are affordable and strong. Speeding up building is great but it shouldn't be done if it will reduce quality and safety.

The fact is that Green Development Standards (GDS) actually help. They cut down on red tape and make things clearer for builders. But Bill 17 will hurt cities' ability to use these GDS. If that happens, new buildings could be built fast, but might not be energy-efficient, good to live in, or affordable over time. Climate change is a real risk and these standards ensure that homeowners don’t have to foot the bill for future upgrades to ensure their home can handle the changes that are to come. GDS actually save homeowners money on bills, reduce city costs, and cut pollution while future proofing their home.
The Toronto Green Standard (TGS) has been a model for other cities for 15 years, helping build homes that use less energy. Many cities in our area have copied it because it saves homeowners money and reduces strain on our energy systems. These standards focus on results, not strict rules, and they don't clash with the Ontario Building Code.

Cities with GDS are working together better now. It just needs to be clearer that cities can ask for these standards. They're doing it to save money and lower energy demands.
And guess what? GDS actually make building faster! Since Toronto updated its TGS in 2022, approval times dropped by 22%. Pickering and Brampton, which also updated their GDS, saw drops of 16% and 26%. But Ottawa, which voted against GDS, saw approval times get 30% slower. It's clear: GDS speed up housing development.

Bill 17 will limit cities to a small list of studies. Cities need to be able to ask for the right studies to protect nature, public health, and city finances, which the Planning Act requires. What's needed varies by project and location. This will erode the quality of construction.

Removing GDS will not “build homes smarter or faster” and will have the opposite effect. I recommend allowing the GDS with a requirement that all municipalities work together to ensure the process is the same or working in a GDS into the Ontario Building Code. We cannot ignore climate change and we can ignore the impact it will have on all buildings in the future.

We need to see progress and positive changes in the construction industry but what we are seeing right now is the opposite.