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Greenbelt makes GTA more, not less, livable
As Ontario revisits legislation protecting 1.8-million acres of land around the region, it should dismiss critics who argue that the Greenbelt makes homes less affordable in the GTA.
TONY BOCK / TORONTO STAR Order this photo
The rich bracken and foliage of the Greenbelt can be seen in a Pickering woodlot. Queen's Park is set to review legislation that protects this area.
A 10-year anniversary is usually cause for celebration. That should certainly be the case with Ontario’s Greenbelt, the 1.8 million acres of protected farmland, wetlands, watersheds and green spaces that surround our region. The Greenbelt has helped to reduce sprawl, protect our natural environment and provide food for our growing urban region.
Now that we have a decade of experience to consider, the province is formally reviewing its two marquee planning policies: the Greenbelt Act and the Places to Grow Act. Some critics are using this opportunity to suggest that the Greenbelt and provincial land-use rules are making homes less affordable in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). However, that argument doesn’t hold water.
(OTC Members Say - It also displaced a lot of farmers, and we hope they will support our work in trails)
