urban sprawl

Ford and Clarke

WOW!!! What a week!

Doug Ford blinked before the entire province this week by capitulating to CUPE and revoking Bill 28.  This happened as a result of the mobilization and solidarity of the labour movement in Ontario, the likes of which haven’t really been seen in a few generations.

While that might sound like a reason to celebrate (it is), Doug Ford and his team haven’t wasted any time to back track on previous promises that they’ve made to voters.  Namely to keep the Greenbelt intact. Read More …

This week had huge news in Hamilton.  Local area MPP Donna Skelly earned some local headlines, by saying that #Hamilton city council made the wrong call in not expanding its urban boundary earlier this year. And the PC government tabled legislation based on the Housing Task Force report, and this gives a lot of power to developers, restricting municipalities in how they respond to proposals, and puts it all basically on the Ontario Land Tribunal to sort it out.Read More …

Paul Sharman and Jane Fogel

We discuss Halton Region’s crucial vote last week against expanding the urban boundaries of its municipalities to allow development on farmland. It’s the top-level or single tier municipality to do so, in what appears to be a major sea-change in public opinion in favour of halting sprawl in the 905. We invited on two councillors who took part in the vote, Burlington’s Paul Sharman and Halton Hills Jane Fogal, who have opposing views about the right decision for Halton, to explain their perspectives.Read More …

Glasgow Tenements

TVO has today published a leaked details of the Ontario Government’s Housing Affordability Task Force Report, due to be published next week.

If the draft were implemented, it would fundamentally change development in Ontario cities. Roland Tanner argues there seem to be some very good, some potentially good, and some terrible recommendations.Read More …

Stop Sprawl map

This week saw a major victory for the grassroots organizers to protect the remaining rural area of Hamilton from development.  Hamilton City Council voted not to expand it’s Urban Boundary.  This came after a sustained grassroots pressure from groups such as Stop Sprawl Ham ONT organized and campaigned to stop the expansion. 

hen after the break, Joel and Roland look at how the Six Nations Land Defenders of 1492 Landback Lane are showing solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en peoples in downtown Hamilton.  Read More …