Table of Contents

1. Content
2. Additional Resources
3. Related Topics

Ontario is reviewing four award-winning and internationally recognized provincial land use plans that work together to manage growth, protect our agricultural lands and natural environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support economic development in Ontario's Greater Golden Horseshoe and Greenbelt. These plans include:

• The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
• The Greenbelt Plan
• The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
• The Niagara Escarpment Plan

The co-ordinated review will be finalized in the fall of 2015, with final recommendations on amendments to the plans ready by early 2016 to help inform the Metrolinx's Big Move update.

Expert Advisory Panel

To support the co-ordinated review, Ontario has appointed Mr. David Crombie, former federal Cabinet minister and former mayor of Toronto, to chair an advisory panel to develop recommendations to the government on how to amend and improve the plans. The advisory panel will deliver a report to the Ministers of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Natural Resources and Forestry later this year.

Mr. Crombie's fellow panel members are:

• Keith Currie, vice president, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
• Rae Horst, former CAO, Credit Valley Conservation Authority
• John MacKenzie, commissioner of planning, City of Vaughan
• Debbie Zimmerman, CEO, Grape Growers of Ontario
• Leith Moore, senior vice president, Urban Fieldgate Homes

The advisory panel recommendations will consider the areas set out in a discussion paper, Our Region, Our Community, Our Home, which will be used to guide public consultations. The discussion paper focuses on key areas of priority, including:

• Opportunities for growing the Greenbelt
• How to support agricultural activities and further protect agricultural land         
•  How to further protect the region's Natural Heritage Systems
• How to support transit and align infrastructure investments that increase intensification, and support livable, walkable communities
• How to accommodate a growing population with housing and employment development
• How the plans can support the government's targets for reducing greenhouse gases
• Other priority areas raised during the consultation, as identified by the panel or ministers

Public Consultations Process

Public consultations will collect broad input into how the plans are working and how they should be modified. There will be a number of opportunities for people to provide their input:

A discussion paper, Our Region, Our Community, Our Home has been posted online, and will be used to guide the public consultations.

A series of town halls are scheduled across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, starting in late March 2015. A list of confirmed sessions is available.

Ontarians can comment on the co-ordinated review through the Environmental Registry.

Ontarians can email their comments to landuseplanningreview@ontario.ca

Ontarians can send a letter to:

Land Use Planning Review

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Ontario Growth Secretariat

777 Bay St. Suite 425 (4th floor)

Toronto, ON M5G 2E5

The information and viewpoints gathered will inform the advisory panel's development of proposed amendments to the plan. 

Additional Resources

Related Topics