Support

Sprawl and Ontario's Greenbelt

Sprawl is one of the most wasteful forms of development, leading Ontario’s former Environmental Commissioner to call it “Ontario’s oil sands.” A strong Growth Plan, together with an expanded Greenbelt, can help ensure growth in a way that is sustainable and more cost effective.

Read More

Sprawl is the Dominant Growth Style in Simcoe County

We’ve been dealing with losing our natural spaces and farmland to sprawl in this region for a long time. It’s been the main way we’ve grown our communities for decades, and we continue to do so, even though it’s outdated and extremely wasteful, today.

Consider:

  • Between 2006 and 2014, Simcoe County released more greenfield lands for development (sprawl)  than any other region in southern Ontario. This, despite the fact that the amount of growth they were anticipated to receive was much less than many places;1Neptis (2013) Implementing the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
  • The IGAP report in 2006 outlined that due to urbanization pressure of sprawl and without intervening action, “the available potable water and aquaculture of these watersheds are threatened” within Simcoe County;2Intergovernmental Action Plan for Simcoe County. (2006)
  • The Lake Simcoe watershed is calculated to lose 12,000 hectares of natural and semi-natural space by 2031.  That’s equivalent to 1000 Vaughan Mills Malls;3Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. (2014).  Minister’s Report on Lake Simcoe
  • Over the past 40 years, Barrie’s footprint grew by 550% losing over 150km2 of natural and semi-natural space.4Statistics Canada

What Can Be Done?

First and foremost, we have to intentionally choose different development patterns.  Sprawl must be stopped and settlement boundaries must be held firm. 

Unfortunately, this doesn’t make developers and those wanting to cash out very rich. 

As a result, extreme lobbying efforts within our municipal councils promote sprawling patterns as a supposed answer to economic woes – which simply isn’t true. 

In fact, sprawling developments have been shown time and time again to cost the municipality more than what it brings in with new tax revenue and growth.5Report: The High Cost of Sprawl

Infographic on the high cost of sprawl. Credit: Smart Prosperity Institute.
Infographic on the high cost of sprawl. Credit: Smart Prosperity Institute. (Click image for larger version.)

We can also address this through provincial policy, specifically, the Greenbelt. 

The Greenbelt Plan was created to direct growth to existing communities to prevent sprawl from paving over farmland and our most precious, sensitive landscapes. 

Ontario’s Greenbelt policies have been recognized internationally as one of the most legally effective and clear policies when compared against other greenbelt across the globe. 

Although far from perfect, the Greenbelt has been shown to stop the loss of farmland to sprawl, support water systems and act as a natural solution to climate change.

The only thing that is required is political will to prioritize protection of our water, wetlands, greenspaces and farmland over outdated economic policies that are based on infrastructure such as sprawl, highways and pipelines.

We Have an Opportunity to Shift Our Decisions

The province is asking for feedback about how and where to grow the Greenbelt in Ontario. 

Frankly, we think we should protect as much of our land and water as possible – our economy, food security and water security depend on it. 

However, we also recognize that the political will isn’t as bold as the vision that Ontarians may have, so that’s where citizens need to push the needle. 

We need to have conversations about how we create healthy, sustainable, thriving communities. 

Science is showing us that our patterns and choices are problematic for our own survival. 

Let’s start by doing one meaningful thing – grow the Greenbelt to the rest of the Lake Simcoe basin, to areas within Simcoe County that are important to providing clean water, air and food for residents. 

Better is always possible even if it isn’t politically expedient.

Related Content

This illustration image of Poilievre combines a frame from a now notorious engagement where he belittled a journalist while eating an apple, with a photo of a forest fire added as a backdrop, in place of the orchard.
Climate Change

Issue In Brief: Understanding the Carbon Tax

The debate around the carbon tax frequently misses its broader economic and environmental benefits. By effectively addressing the externality of carbon emissions, the carbon tax stands as a critical component of Canada’s strategy to combat climate change and promote sustainable growth. Clear communication and understanding of the policy’s benefits, including the progressive rebate program, are vital in navigating public concerns and fostering support for this essential environmental initiative.

Read More »
April 3, 2024 1 Comment
A photo of scaffolding on a construction site. Photo by Tolu Olubode on Unsplash.
Affordable Housing

Analysis: More Homes Built Faster Act

Recent moves by Ontario’s government seem likely to create conditions for a number of crises in the next few decades that, when combined, are greater than the sum of their parts. This is what’s known as a “polycrisis”, a term popularized by economic historian Adam Tooze.

Read More »
November 10, 2022 1 Comment
Photo of an urban park, with benches on which people are sitting in the foreground and lawn and trees in the background. Photo by I Do Nothing But Love on Unsplash .
Planning

Simcoe County 2022 – 2051 Land Needs Assessment

…value in the context of a community is achieved through livability, which in turn drives economic and social dynamism. Propinquity, or the accessibility of the areas we inhabit, whether that’s for people we socialise with or for consumer good or employment, is the key metric to achieve in this regard. Build communities for people and good things happen.

Read More »
July 6, 2022 No Comments
Subscribe
Notify of

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Read More

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

We send out a once-monthly newsletter full of information on what’s happening in Simcoe County and beyond, including information on how you can take action to protect the health of your community.

Home

Our Work

Take Action

Contact Us

Hi there!

Use this form to send Margaret an email.
Headshotmargaret
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Hi there!


Use this form to send Adam an email.

Adam-2
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for signing up!

You have more power than you think.

Make a choice for a better future.

Donating to SCGC means your impact is local, direct, and helps build better, more sustainable communities in central Ontario.

Donate

Become part of our network. Stay informed. Take action. Protect Ontario.

Friends. Online censorship by unaccountable tech companies, combined with an all-out assault on the Greenbelt by Ontario’s developers/government, make this a perilous time for the future of democracy and the power of the people in Ontario.

We need to build new ways of empowering those who believe in accountability, in a healthy environment, and in communities ready to thrive in the economy of tomorrow.

Join our supporter network and stay informed about efforts and actions to protect the Greenbelt, to build communities that support the health and well-being of people, and to lay the foundations of a resilient, climate friendly future.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Address (Optional)
How did you hear about us?(Optional)