The recommendations of the Crombie Report are a positive high-level step towards improving Ontario’s Greenbelt and Growth Plans, and Municipal Leaders for the Greenbelt (MLGB) support the province embracing and enacting the report recommendations in a timely manner. Municipal Leaders Co-Chairs Oakville Mayor Burton, Ajax Mayor Parish and Toronto Deputy Mayor De Baeremaeker agree that given Ontario’s recent climate commitments made in Paris at COP21, the Greenbelt and Growth Plan are the province’s best tools for progress on climate change.
“Urban sprawl in Ontario is worse than ever,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “Swift action is needed to slow and stop the sprawl. The Crombie Report provides a clear path of action that will help in the fight against urban sprawl and climate change.”
As part of the Provinces’ 2015-coordinated review of both plans, MLGB made three main policy requests urging the government to:
1) Expand Ontario’s Greenbelt protecting an additional 1 million acres of environmentally sensitive features and natural heritage systems.
2) Further protect prime agricultural lands and agricultural economies in the Whitebelt by creating a special Foodbelt designation designed for permanent protection of agriculture.
3) Enabling municipal Greenbelt expansions by reducing municipal red tape simplifying the process.
MLGB are pleased to see that the Crombie Panel has listened and included recommendations that speak to our policy submissions. As the province moves forward with amendments to the Greenbelt and Growth Plan in 2016, MLGB will continue to support further strengthening and refining of the plan policies to better protect environmentally significant features and prime agricultural lands inside and outside the Greenbelt and to ensure that smart compact growth is mandated and implemented. This will truly allow Ontario to become a climate leader in North America.
Greenbelt in Oakville
The Greenbelt in Oakville comes down from the 407 to Bronte Creek Park by the QEW and includes the Glenorchy Conservation Area which was added as part of an amendment in 2012. It’s best to refer to the Province’s map.