I’m writing to express…

I’m writing to express concern about the proposed changes to the Planning Act and City of Toronto Act under Bill 17 (ERO 025-0461).

Green Development Standards (like the Toronto Green Standard) don’t slow down housing—they streamline approvals, reduce long-term costs for homeowners, and cut emissions. Municipalities across the GTHA have adopted them to ensure new housing is energy-efficient and affordable to operate. Removing the ability to require GDS would make housing more expensive to live in over time and harder for cities to meet their climate goals.

I’m also concerned about the proposal to restrict which studies municipalities can require. Cities need flexibility to respond to local conditions—climate risks, infrastructure limits, and ecological systems aren’t one-size-fits-all. Limiting this ability could create delays, not reduce them.

I support simplifying planning, especially for low- and mid-rise housing, but not at the cost of long-term livability. Please preserve the tools cities need to build housing that’s efficient, affordable, and resilient.