Legislation would restore land from Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine
The province has introduced a bill to return lands taken from the protected Greenbelt.
Last year, the Ontario government announced plans to remove 7,400 acres of Greenbelt land to make way for 50,000 more homes, and replace it with 9,400 acres from elsewhere.
Reports from the auditor general and the integrity commissioner found the plans favoured certain developers.
As a result, Premier Doug Ford reversed the decision last month.
Housing Minister Paul Calandra introduced the bill this afternoon, saying if passed, it would restore all properties taken from both the Greenbelt and the Oak Ridges Moraine areas.
It would also ensure that any future changes can be made through a process that would require approval from the legislature.
In addition, the Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act would also restore protections previously provided by the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act.
"We are following through on our commitment to fully restore these lands and provide enhanced protections to the Greenbelt moving forward," said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "At the same time, we remain focused and committed to tackling Ontario’s housing supply crisis and working with our municipal partners to achieve our shared housing targets. We know there’s more work to be done."
Calandra also says the bill is proposing to keep the 9,400 acress that were added to the Greenbelt last year.
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