Building a greenbelt is a complex task – it is more than drawing lines on a map. It means taking all the relevant information and research available, and putting it into the context of the Golden Horseshoe.
The Golden Horseshoe region boasts a number of environmentally sensitive areas. It is home to prime agricultural lands and significant natural resource deposits.
At the same time, the population of the Golden Horseshoe is growing rapidly – it is the economic engine of Ontario, and Canada as a whole. It includes vibrant communities, both urban and rural, their residents and businesses.
In the fall of 2003, the Premier of Ontario began work on fulfilling the government platform commitment to establish a Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt, which would knit together the protections already in place on the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment. The greenbelt would preserve valuable natural heritage and agricultural systems and help curb sprawl for the benefit of the economic and environmental health of the region, and the enjoyment of a growing population.
Legislation, and other legal remedies available to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing were used to hold the line on further urban encroachment on to key rural and agricultural lands. The moratorium on development gave the government time to consider policies and approaches to make permanent greenbelt protection work.
Many questions need to be answered as part of this process. How would the greenbelt be built? On what basis would some lands be included and others not? What policies would apply to the new greenbelt? How would its residents and landowners be affected?
The government decided to undertake an exhaustive, multi-faceted consultation process to take the research and information about the natural features of the Golden Horseshoe and fit them into the larger context of the social and economic realities of the region.
In February 2004, a Greenbelt Task Force, composed of stakeholder representatives and experts in their respective fields, was appointed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The task force was asked to develop principles and directions, and consult with the public and stakeholders before finalizing its advice to the minister. The task force held public consultation meetings and stakeholder workshops, and three phases of increasingly detailed discussions with municipalities. It heard from more than 1,200 people and received more than 1,000 submissions. More than 60 stakeholder groups were represented. In August 2004, the task force provided the minister with its advice and recommendations.
Staff from the ministries of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH), Natural Resources (MNR), Environment (MOE), and Agriculture and Food (OMAF), as well as the ministries of Transportation (MTO), Public Infrastructure Renewal (PIR), and Culture, Tourism and Recreation (MCTR), took the work of the task force and began drafting a map and a workable plan for the Golden Horseshoe.
Inter-ministry teams used a variety of the most up-to-date land information databases to develop a draft map, verifying its accuracy and relevance with municipalities, conservation authorities, agriculture and natural heritage staff most knowledgeable in these areas. At the same time, other inter-ministry teams worked to develop draft policies to protect the lands in the greenbelt, outlined in the draft Greenbelt Plan.
The greenbelt legislation that gives the government authority to draft the map and plan continued through the legislative process while the government engaged in consultation.
Public and stakeholder consultation in the fall and winter of 2004 provided a further opportunity to ensure the government’s draft Greenbelt Plan would serve to achieve the protection envisioned for the Golden Horseshoe. Ministry staff presented the draft map and outlined the draft plan for more than 3,500 people who attended meetings held throughout the Golden Horseshoe. Over 81,000 visits to the government’s greenbelt web page were recorded, more than 1,100 written submissions were received and more than 2,000 electronic surveys were submitted.
Following calls from some municipalities requesting more time for discussion, MAH is conducting another round of discussions with municipal representatives, due to conclude in February 2005.
All of the information gathered through consultations is being fully considered in building the greenbelt.