Bill 66 Newspaper Articles

Further to our recent email regarding Bill 66 and what you can do to have your voice heard, The Toronto Star has published this clear concise outline of what is happening and what it means to us. Developing the Greenbelt is a disaster on multiple levels

BILD (Building Industry and Land Development) has had a number of articles in The Toronto Star Real estate section and some local papers that suggest land restrictions are driving up housing supply/affordability. It is important that we all challenge these assertions by the development industry. 

What the articles by developers don’t say:

·  Developers caused major delays by taking municipal plans to the OMB- something they     can’t do anymore thanks to new provincial policy- LPAT
·  Housing prices have decreased since the high in 2017 and are expected to moderate (CMHC Housing Market Outlook)
· The 2017 Growth Plan increases density – by making more efficient use of land, (less sprawl) requiring fewer km of pipes, which should help reduce house prices, especially if as   they say land is the biggest cost factor. 
·  Intensification and infill makes housing more affordable and provides alternative forms of housing, laneway, mid-rise, etc.
·  Location remains one of the key drivers of real estate prices and rental prices. People want to live close to amenities and many are willing to pay handsomely to live in downtown         Toronto or along the waterfront (rental study).
·  Population growth hasn’t met forecasts (See Neptis presentation).
·  Growth Plan wasn’t updated using 2016 census data – municipalities, particularly in the outer ring may be projecting more growth than they will achieve. This could impact the          affordability of growth related infrastructure paid by municipalities (i.e. big pipes, etc- See paper by Kevin Eby)
· Commuting by car is expensive. Commuting costs affect the affordability of a less expensive house on the edge of the GTHA. (CMHC study- Is the Commute Worth It?)
· Building more single family homes on the edge of our cities increases congestion on the highways- congestion cost the GTHA between $ 6 billion per year or $125 per household      according to the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Better public transit is a key part of the solution.
· If municipalities are permitted to expand their boundaries, it puts increasing pressure on the Greenbelt.

We expect more media articles in the coming weeks. Please send in letters to your local papers to put the record straight whenever you can.