On October 20, 2024, Ontario’s new Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) officially came into effect. This overhaul of the province’s land use planning framework merges the former PPS (2020) with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, effectively dismantling the policy framework that was created to guide sustainable, well-planned growth within one of Ontario’s fastest growing regions.
While the Government of Ontario is claiming it will simply streamline processes for development, the reality is alarming. These revisions significantly weaken environmental protections and put Ontario’s natural heritage, farmland and wetlands at serious risk, while incentivizing more urban sprawl.
The government claims that more land is needed for housing, specifically beyond existing settlement areas. However, research shows this simply isn’t true. In fact, Ontario already has enough land within current boundaries to meet housing needs until 2050. The government’s own 2022 Housing Affordability Task Force report confirmed that a land shortage is not the source of the housing crisis.
Instead of focusing on sustainable growth, the new PPS encourages sprawling development patterns, which could erase much of the progress made over decades in protecting Ontario’s vital farmland and natural areas. Under the new PPS 2024, the rules for land development have become more flexible. It introduces specific targets for how densely areas should be built and gives municipalities greater freedom to allow housing developments and higher-density projects.
“These policy changes are a major setback for Ontario. By prioritizing sprawl over smart growth, the government is undermining our ability to address the interrelated crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.”
– Tony Morris, Director of Conservation Policy and Campaigns at Ontario Nature
Proposed Bradford Bypass Site
Here’s what Ontario stands to lose under the new PPS:
Weaker Natural Heritage Protections: Under the previous Growth Plan, key hydrological features and natural heritage features were strictly protected from development within the regional Natural Heritage System. The new PPS drops these protections, leaving only Provincially Significant Wetlands protected, which combined with a weakened wetland evaluation system, could be devastating for wetland ecosystems.
Encouragement of Urban Sprawl: The new policies reduce density targets, allowing the development of previously protected areas. This opens the door for more low-density development on the outskirts of cities, spreading into natural and agricultural lands.
Farmland at Risk: Municipalities can now expand settlement boundaries at any time, without needing to assess infrastructure or consider the impact on farming communities. This puts Ontario’s valuable farmland at risk of being fragmented or re-designated for development.
Ontario Nature is calling on decision makers to reconsider these changes and commit to evidence-based planning decisions. Ontario can balance growth with the protection of our vital natural areas and precious farmland.
Ontario Nature Protected Places Coordinator. Jenna joined Ontario Nature in the summer of 2021 after graduating from Trent University and Fleming College. Her work supports the Protected Places Campaign by providing visual communication of significant environmental features and conducting assessments of protected places. Jenna has a deep passion for wildlife and the environment and can always be found in nature where she enjoys camping, cooking over fires, hiking and wildlife photography.
3 Replies to “Ontario’s New Provincial Planning Statement: A Step Backward for Sustainable Growth”
The Ontario Government failed to recognize that there is law behind each Provincial Act they’re have dissolved to create their new Housing Plans. They need to be accountable for dissolving the previous Acts that protected our National Resources within our Province. They need to be accountable for they’re actions.
To help advance our objectives related to Bill 5, Ontario Nature is partnering with Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence (LAND). An environmental law non-profit, LAND advances access to justice in northern Ontario to protect nature and Indigenous rights. Ontario Nature is providing financial and in-kind advocacy support to LAND to advance legal challenges by Indigenous rights holders to Bill 5. Ontario Nature and LAND will also collaborate on events, and amplifying Bill 5 opposition and Indigenous voices.
The developers are having a great time with this premier in power. A disgusting abuse of power at the expense of Ontario’s farmland and nature.
Some sure things on this third planet from the sun: Death, taxes and Doug Ford’s government not caring about the natural environment.
The Ontario Government failed to recognize that there is law behind each Provincial Act they’re have dissolved to create their new Housing Plans. They need to be accountable for dissolving the previous Acts that protected our National Resources within our Province. They need to be accountable for they’re actions.