New legislation has been created in order to protect the environment and agricultural lands of the Golden Horseshoe, one of the fastest growing areas in Canada. In the past, development has been left up to the various municipalities and regions. On Oct. 28, the Ontario government announced a development freeze on about 7,000 square kilometres that stretch across the Niagara Peninsula, Hamilton, Halton, York, Peel, and Dufferin. The area to be protected is about the same size as Algonquin Park.
Some municipalities are complaining that their tax base will be smaller, and they won't have the money to fund higher density services such as public transportation. Some organizations, like the NEPTIS Foundation, have questioned why Toronto has been granted 72,000 hectares of land for growth, while smaller communities have not been granted a single acre. Others say the government needs to do more to encourage public transportation and agriculture by providing assistance in policies and funding. The legislation is in the draft phase, and several public consultations will take place in November.
» The Toronto Star: href="http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1100387408152&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News&pubid=968163964505&StarSource=email&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes">Will greenbelt halt sprawl?
»COPE-Citizens opposed to paving the escarpment:
» Ontario Nature:
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