Mixed results from the Coordinated Review: More needed to protect the Greater Golden Horseshoe

On May 18^th Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, Bill Mauro, released the newly updated Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, Greenbelt Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan and Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Growth Plan).

Each of these four plans was, at the time of development, heralded as leading edge; each took a landscape approach to planning based on the most current conservation science. The Niagara Escarpment Plan, introduced in 1985, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, 2002, the Greenbelt Plan, 2005, and the Growth Plan, 2006 together protect natural systems and agricultural lands, while guiding growth to reduce sprawling housing developments across the GGH and up the Bruce Peninsula. This Coordinated Review, initiated in February 2015, was intended to gauge these plans’ effectiveness and update them.

While the Province is moving the yardstick in the right direction, we have identified some significant concerns with the newly finalized plans (See our press release and coverage in the Toronto Star).

What we’re pleased to see:

• A commitment to extend Greenbelt-like protections to a natural heritage system across the GGH
• A commitment to support agricultural viability by identifying an agricultural system across the GGH
• Minimal changes to the Greenbelt’s original boundaries and no land swapping, despite more than 650 applications to remove lands from the Greenbelt
• Higher intensification and density targets for communities across the region to reduce sprawl and promote complete communities
• An inclusion of 21 Urban River Valleys and associated coastal wetlands, along with 5 parcels of land in Hamilton, Niagara and Halton into the Greenbelt
• A renewed commitment to watershed planning in the GGH through the development of resources for municipalities to identify their water resource systems

What we’re disappointed to see:

• A step backwards in the protection of Ontario’s most vulnerable plants and animals
  • Changes to the plans reduce levels of protection and undermine a community’s ability to prioritize species at risk protection

• Possible expansion for towns and villages in the Greenbelt through a Municipal Comprehensive Review
  • Previously all towns and villages in the Greenbelt had a freeze on any urban boundary expansion
• Limited commitment to grow the Greenbelt
  • Despite the addition of some low-hanging fruit, the government has made only lukewarm commitments to protecting the Bluebelt’s vulnerable water supplies beyond the current Greenbelt boundaries
• Some systemic problems which negatively impact the water, nature and communities of the GGH were not addressed
  • E.g. the adverse impacts of infrastructure development, excess soil dumping on the Moraine and Greenbelt, and water-takings were left unresolved

Don River © David Coulson

What’s next:

Over the summer we are expecting the government to initiate new public consultations to: 1) map a natural heritage system; 2) identify an agricultural system; 3) develop guidance materials to identify a water resources system; and 4) initiate a process to grow the Greenbelt into vulnerable water supply areas.

To make sure you are kept in the loop as we continue our campaign to protect the region’s water, nature and communities, join our Advocates for Nature e-news community.

The Coordinated Review: a brief timeline

The Coordinated Review was kicked off back in February 2015. Since then the Oak Ridges Moraine Partnership, made up of Ontario Nature, EcoSpark, the STORM Coalition and Earthroots, has been advocating for stronger laws, a stronger landscape and a stronger legacy for the GGH. Here is a brief timeline of the Coordinate Review to date:

Coordinated Review Timeline

Josh Wise is Ontario Nature’s Greenway Program Manager.