{"id":425260,"date":"2021-12-09T14:52:26","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T14:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/environmentaldefence.ca\/?p=31951"},"modified":"2021-12-09T14:52:26","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T14:52:26","slug":"ontarios-auditor-general-confirms-the-province-is-pushing-more-and-more-low-density-sprawl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/12\/09\/ontarios-auditor-general-confirms-the-province-is-pushing-more-and-more-low-density-sprawl\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario\u2019s Auditor General confirms the province is pushing more and more low-density sprawl"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Sprawl\"<\/div>

Ontario\u2019s Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk has released a series of blistering reports on topics like hazardous spills<\/a>, <\/span>endangered species<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>climate change<\/span><\/a> about the current government\u2019s environmental performance in recent weeks. The <\/span>Land-Use Planning audit<\/span><\/a> is no different.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the official provincial policy is designed to rein in sprawl, the Ontario government’s actions show that in practice, it is doing exactly the opposite.<\/span><\/p>\n

The audit confirms that this government has abandoned the goal of curbing suburban sprawl in southern Ontario. Despite being warned that its plans would undermine the long-term vision of the Growth Plan<\/em>, lead to widespread loss of farmland and natural areas, put stress on water resources AND put our climate goals further out of reach, the current government plowed ahead with inflated suburban growth targets and dozens of sprawl Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Growth
Changes to Ontario’s Growth Plan and overuse of MZOs is leading to more sprawl and fewer farms and forests<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here\u2019s a quick look at what Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk found for a few key areas of concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

MZOs<\/b><\/h3>\n

The excessive use of MZOs is pushing sprawl development outside settlement area boundaries. This undermines existing planning and is likely to cost taxpayers money, because greenfield sprawl development requires new infrastructure, like sewers and roads, and provides less tax income than building in existing neighbourhoods. While the government likes to say that these MZOs are being requested by local governments, they often go straight from a town or city council to the province and are rarely approved by the regional councils that are actually in charge of land-use planning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More on MZO’s from the Auditor General’s report:<\/p>\n