Ontario says it will protect green space for each fast-tracked development
Ontario promised Wednesday to add more protected land to the Greenbelt every time it employs a political tool that fast-tracks land development.
Critics warned, however, that the move may signal the Progressive Conservative government's plans to push through new projects without full consultation.
The government said Wednesday it will add two acres of land to the Greenbelt in southern Ontario for every acre of land developed through a minister's zoning order, which give the government power to fast-track development in a given area.
"We are balancing responsible growth with protecting the environment for future generations," said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark.
The pledge covers land involved in MZOs that have already been issued and development projects yet to be announced.
A spokesperson for Clark confirmed that at least 6,000 acres -- or 2,400 hectares -- of land will be added to the Greenbelt, based on 45 MZOs issued so far by the current government.
Clark also announced he'd issue an MZO to place 360 hectares of wetland in the North Gwillimbury Forest under Greenbelt protection.
Ontario created the Greenbelt in 2005 to protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area from development.
The Progressive Conservative government has argued it's using the MZOs to speed up housing developments as the population grows.
But critics argue the tool is overused and allows potentially harmful development to go ahead without proper environmental consultation.
Some said Wednesday they were concerned the latest move indicated the government had plans for further developments it wanted to push through.
"(The government) is letting developers have at extremely valuable and environmentally sensitive lands, and pretending to replace it by with less valuable, less ecologically significant land," NDP environment critic Sandy Shaw said in a statement.
"People are extremely concerned that this announcement is a warning sign that Ford is about to gift more extraordinary MZOs so developers can pave over wetlands and precious farmland."
The Liberals expressed similar concerns.
"Trusting Doug Ford to protect green space is like trusting an arsonist with a pack of matches," Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said in a Twitter post.
The Green party called the announcement a distraction from the government's "environmentally destructive policies."
"The government has been using MZOs far too loosely and many times in an attempt to override environmental concerns, when they could be used to strengthen environmental protections," party leader Mike Schreiner said.
"Greens will continue to lead the charge against Ford's destructive, pro-sprawl agenda."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.