The Hamilton Spectator

Smart planning, investment will drive prosperity

Ontario must have a balanced plan if it wants to keep ‘Golden’ in ‘Golden Horseshoe’

- TED MCMEEKIN Ted McMeekin is the MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamboroug­h-Westdale, and recently served as Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Plans and proposals cited in this article will help inform discussion­s at the Bay Area Economic Sum

The term “Golden Horseshoe” was coined in 1954 by Herbert Rogge, then-president of Westinghou­se, in a speech to the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

He was describing his vision of a future horseshoe of industrial developmen­t from Oshawa to the Niagara River.

Well, “golden” is an apt term to describe the prosperity Rogge foresaw.

As 350-plus thought leaders gather for the Bay Area Economic Summit tomorrow, I’m excited to see themes like transporta­tion, environmen­tal stewardshi­p, quality of life and economic developmen­t up for discussion.

The Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) is Canada’s largest economic engine and one of the fastest growing regions in North America. Around 13.5 million people, working in 6.3 million jobs, are expected to live in the GGH by 2041.

To support this growth, we need our provincial land use plans to work together to keep the shine on that gold.

That is why we conducted a co-ordinated review in 2015 of all four plans that impact the region — the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservati­on Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan.

We need to revise the plans because the area’s prosperity is attracting more and more people.

To sustainabl­y support this growth, we must continue to:

Create complete communitie­s in which people live and work, and where businesses thrive. Keep goods and people moving efficientl­y. Protect suitable lands for new and expanding businesses. Ensure farms continue to flourish. Reduce the negative effects of climate change.

Enhance protection­s for natural areas and water resources.

These goals and our proposed changes to the plans are based on public input and a lot of careful thought.

Fourteen months ago, the government appointed David Crombie, former federal cabinet minister and former mayor of Toronto, to head an advisory panel of representa­tives from the municipal, developmen­t, agricultur­al and environmen­tal sectors.

We received more than 19,000 submission­s — you read that right: 19,000!

And over 3,000 people attended town halls.

Based on this feedback, the advisory panel came to consensus on 87 recommenda­tions.

To be honest, when I first set up the advisory panel I was concerned whether such a diverse group could reach a consensus. But against all odds, and under the tremendous leadership of Crombie, they put together one of the most significan­t planning documents in this province’s history.

They recommende­d growing Ontario’s communitie­s in a way that attracts jobs and investment­s in vibrant, livable urban centres.

As we make unpreceden­ted investment­s in transit and infrastruc­ture — $160 billion over 12 years, including $1 billion for Light Rail Transit in Hamilton, and expanded GO rail service along the Lakeshore West line — we need to ensure smart developmen­t policies are in place to maximize new capital.

We need to curb sprawl and lessen commute times by directing growth in places where transit exists.

So we’re proposing to direct a minimum of 60 per cent of new residentia­l developmen­t annually to already urbanized areas.

Our proposals would also require developmen­t in greenfield areas to be planned for at least 80 residents and jobs per hectare.

Speaking of jobs, planning for and protecting employment areas is critical for economic prosperity.

We’re proposing stronger rules for municipali­ties to protect strategic employment lands for the long term.

Those lands need to be in the right locations and available when business and industry are ready to invest or expand.

We also want to grow the Greenbelt, by adding lands in 21 major urban river valleys and seven coastal wetlands at the mouths of some of these rivers.

What’s more, over the next year, the province intends to work with the public and stakeholde­rs to study growing the Greenbelt in areas where water resources are under pressure from developmen­t.

Our proposals would require municipali­ties to include climate change policies in their official plans and direct them to plan for infrastruc­ture that is more resilient to a changing climate.

We all have a stake in ensuring this region thrives for generation­s to come.

That’s why I encourage all of you to review our proposed changes and let us know what you think.

I can’t emphasize enough that this area is blessed with many natural advantages.

Building strong, healthy, complete communitie­s will require us all to work better together. We must protect what we hold sacred while leveraging our assets to build our tomorrows. Together we can do it — let’s get at it.

 ?? THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR ?? A swan in Hamilton Harbour with steel industries and a freighter in the background.
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR A swan in Hamilton Harbour with steel industries and a freighter in the background.
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