Ontario To Axe 7400 Acres Of Conservation Land For Housing, Spurs Anger

[Economy 52,854]

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/11/04/ontario-backtracks-on-greenbelt-pledge-with-plan-to-allow-housing-on-7400-acres.html

 

The Premier of Ontario plans to remove at least 7400 acres of land from the highly conserved "green belt" that surrounds most of the Toronto metro where development is banned

 

 

The greenbelt has become highly controversial in recently years with some very pro using a portion of it for development as the Province faces a severe housing shortage and extremely unaffordable prices. Because the greenbelt surrounds the most populated metro in the Country, it limits options to increase housing outwards

 

Meanwhile on the other side, environmentalists balk at the idea of developing on sensitive land and suggest replacing homes with higher density is the answer. They also point out a few plots of land in some cities are still available

[Economy 52,854]

The brown area by the lake is the Toronto area and suburbs around it where about 6 Million people live.

 

Higher density however also faces challanges from NIMBYS (not in my backyard) who frequently challange municipal plans for condos or other taller buildings in their area

 

 

[FfFfFfFF 58,120]

Which in turn would make the temperatures in the city proper higher and lead to more polution, thus leading to negative stuff instead positive change.

I spend part of my time in a very poluted city, so much so that it no longer snows more than 20 days per year (when it should've been like 3 months). The heat in the summer is also absolutely unbearable.

I would 100% trade this for more greenery and trees. 

[Economy 52,854]

22 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

Which in turn would make the temperatures in the city proper higher and lead to more polution, thus leading to negative stuff instead positive change.

I spend part of my time in a very poluted city, so much so that it no longer snows more than 20 days per year (when it should've been like 3 months). The heat in the summer is also absolutely unbearable.

I would 100% trade this for more greenery and trees. 

I'm all for keeping the green as long as we find solutions to the housing shortages

 

Higher density can help but then annoying boomers or other privileged ppl with their picket fences need to stop complaining that they don't like condos in the sky and stop trying to stop development projects

 

Something's gotta give. Or else were gonna keep spending all our income on rents on a shortage that will never end

 

 

[FfFfFfFF 58,120]

26 minutes ago, Economy said:

I'm all for keeping the green as long as we find solutions to the housing shortages

 

Higher density can help but then annoying boomers or other privileged ppl with their picket fences need to stop complaining that they don't like condos in the sky and stop trying to stop development projects

 

Something's gotta give. Or else were gonna keep spending all our income on rents on a shortage that will never end

 

 

We should normalize living outside cities. Humans are made to live in small communities, cities have always been the exception to the rule.

[StarstruckIllusion 53,565]

The way Hamilton voted against this but the Premier just overrode this. With this and the whole non withstanding clause stealing rights away, the dictator is LEAPING out… 

[LaLa 19,898]

disgusting things going on with the provincial government 

[StarstruckIllusion 53,565]

7 minutes ago, LaLa said:

disgusting things going on with the provincial government 

honestly never been madder at him. CUPE and Go Transit both striking next week… it’s a disaster atm

[LaLa 19,898]

25 minutes ago, StarstruckIllusion said:

honestly never been madder at him. CUPE and Go Transit both striking next week… it’s a disaster atm

yep I knew when he won that last election even after all the hate he got during covid that he'd take it as permission to go nuts with his evil schemes, and here we are 

[Economy 52,854]

40 minutes ago, LaLa said:

disgusting things going on with the provincial government 

 

31 minutes ago, StarstruckIllusion said:

honestly never been madder at him. CUPE and Go Transit both striking next week… it’s a disaster atm

That whole non withstanding clause is such an abuse of power. It's not really an emergency and it shouldn't be used in casual disputes

 

Regarding this OP. Maybe going after the green belt isn't the best solution

 

But u gotta admit, when it comes to the alternative, higher density, rezoning and stuff many municipalities as well as citizens are simply not co-operating

 

I don't think we should go after the green belt at this time. But other jurisdictions (and people) I think are also part to blame for the housing shortage crisis

 

U don't like a condo close to your house cuz it makes ur neighbourhood crowded or doesn't look beautiful? Too bad, people need housing and if ur privedledged enough to be concerned with the neighborhood astherics around ur picket fence than u got a better problem than most

 

Going on protests, legal challanges and putting pressure on the city or electing people who share anti density views is not helping the situation

 

The way I see it, it's either build on more land, or do more density in existing zones. Those are the only two options. To not go after the green belt and sprawl, then we need to shut up the ppl preventing density instead ASAP 

[Economy 52,854]

3 hours ago, FfFfFfFF said:

We should normalize living outside cities. Humans are made to live in small communities, cities have always been the exception to the rule.

From an environmental perspective that's worse unless ur suggesting living a simple local life that's a different story

[Economy 52,854]

1 hour ago, LaLa said:

yep I knew when he won that last election even after all the hate he got during covid that he'd take it as permission to go nuts with his evil schemes, and here we are 

What's the go transit strike about?

 

[Guillaume Hamon 6,990]

3 hours ago, Economy said:

From an environmental perspective that's worse unless ur suggesting living a simple local life that's a different story

Tbh I doubt our western societies would accept this simple local lifestyle except if we're forced with the upcoming giant climate crisis...

[StarstruckIllusion 53,565]

6 hours ago, Economy said:

 

That whole non withstanding clause is such an abuse of power. It's not really an emergency and it shouldn't be used in casual disputes

 

Regarding this OP. Maybe going after the green belt isn't the best solution

 

But u gotta admit, when it comes to the alternative, higher density, rezoning and stuff many municipalities as well as citizens are simply not co-operating

 

I don't think we should go after the green belt at this time. But other jurisdictions (and people) I think are also part to blame for the housing shortage crisis

 

U don't like a condo close to your house cuz it makes ur neighbourhood crowded or doesn't look beautiful? Too bad, people need housing and if ur privedledged enough to be concerned with the neighborhood astherics around ur picket fence than u got a better problem than most

 

Going on protests, legal challanges and putting pressure on the city or electing people who share anti density views is not helping the situation

 

The way I see it, it's either build on more land, or do more density in existing zones. Those are the only two options. To not go after the green belt and sprawl, then we need to shut up the ppl preventing density instead ASAP 

Agree with all of this. Single family housing was the worst urban planning mistake of all time lmao 

[dit 46,738]

I see the positives and negatives. 

Negatives: Obviously anytime you cut down protected forested land it is a really really sad thing that can have terrible repercussions on communities nearby. Like the air quality will be even more tragic now.

Positives: The housing crisis in Ontario is HUGE. Ottawa is also suffering with this mess and they actually have plenty of space to build yet companies are just not building to meet demand sadly. House prices have risen IMMENSLY to the point that if you are not rich or your parents do not pass down their own home to you than you literally can only dream of owning a home. Condo homes are still affordable but they have ridiculous condo fees (like upwards of 600$ monthly) which makes them no longer affordable either. 

It's all just a tragic mess at the moment. The real solution would be for more apartments blocks being built not for rent but to own and for home owners to consider selling their plots of land for new home developments. Like there are some homes in Toronto, Ottawa etc...that have HUGE front and back gardens...Time to sell some of that land for housing development tbh.