Greater Toronto Area (GTA)...Ontario

Covering - Toronto, Milton, Brampton, Mississauga, Burlington & Oakville

Ontario Facts
Ontario's 12.5 million people make it Canada's most populous and dynamic province.  Its share of Canada's GDP for 2004 was 40 per cent and it is Canada's leading manufacturing province accounting for 52 per cent of the total national manufacturing shipments in 2004. The prospects for Ontario's economic growth are bright over the longer term with real output forecast to rise by 2.3 per cent in 2006 and 2.5 per cent in 2007. This growth will foster strong job creation and rising incomes. Employment in Ontario stood at 6,359,600 in March 2006. 81,200 net new jobs were created in Ontario in 2005. Job creation is expected to rise by 85,000 in 2006, and 209,000 in 2007-2008.  CPI inflation in Ontario was 2.2 per cent in 2005, and is forecasted to be 2.1 per cent in 2006, and 1.8 per cent in 2007.

Over the next 30 years, the number of people living in Ontario is expected to grow by approximately four million. The McGuinty government is committed to ensuring that this growth contributes to prosperous, healthy and diverse communities in all parts of the province.

On June 13, 2005, the Places to Grow Act, 2005 received Royal Assent. The Act provides a legal framework for growth planning in Ontario. The Growth Plan establishes policies that municipalities must conform with when planning for and approving development. Primarily, the Growth Plan attempts to prevent urban sprawl, revitalize urban centres, and reduce congestion by intensifying growth in existing urban areas and requiring new development to make provisions for transportation alternatives such as transit, walking, and cycling.

Highlights:

By 2015, 40% of all new residential development, occurring annually within each municipality, will have to be within already built-up areas. Identifies 25 "urban growth centres" to be targets for higher amounts of growth.
Establishes various minimum density targets for new development.
Promotes mixed-use, transit-supportive, pedestrian-friendly communities.
Restricts conversion of employment land uses to non-employment uses.
Restricts the expansion of areas designated for development by municipal Official Plans.
According to the Growth Plan, the entire region is expected to grow by 3.7 million people by 2031, with 75% of that growth occurring in the GTA. The largest increases in the GTA will be experienced in the Regions of Peel (up 59%), Durham (up 81%), York (up 97%), and Halton (up 100%). The Cities of Toronto and Hamilton will also see significant increases (19% and 29% respectively).

Almost 5 million people live the GTA. Employment in the GTA will also see significant increases by 2031 with more than 1.3 million more jobs, a 47% increase. Once again, the largest increases will be experienced outside of Toronto, with Peel up 64%, Durham up 84%, York up 100%, and Halton up 105%. Toronto and Hamilton will see employment increases of 14% and 43% respectively.

The key strategy is to increase the capacity of existing built-up areas. Therefore, the Growth Plan requires that, by 2015, 40% of all new residential development, occurring annually within each municipality, be within already built-up areas.

In addition, the Growth Plan establishes 25 specific areas as targets for growth. As the primary areas for growth, these so-called “Urban Growth Centres” will be the focus for transit and infrastructure investments. By 2031, development in these urban growth centres will be required to achieve minimum density targets that are higher than other areas.

New development in Urban Growth Centres in Toronto will be required to meet a target of 400 people and jobs combined per hectare. New development in Urban Growth Centres in the GTA will be required to meet a target of 200 people and jobs combined per hectare. New development in Urban Growth Centres outside of the GTA will be required to meet a target of 150 people and jobs combined per hectare.

The Growth Plan acknowledges that not all of the expected population and job growth can be accommodated within existing areas. Some growth will occur on “greenfields”, areas already designated for growth by municipal official plans but not yet developed.

However, the Growth Plan sets strict expectations for how these areas will grow. In particular, greenfield development will have to be designed with densities and street configurations that support public transit and alternative transportation modes such as cycling and walking. New “greenfield” development will be required to meet a minimum density target of 50 people and jobs combined per hectare.