On October 16, 2023, the Ontario government introduced legislation that, if passed, would restore all properties that were redesignated or removed from the Greenbelt and the Oak Ridges Moraine areas in late 2022. If passed, this legislation would also enhance protections for the Greenbelt and the Oak Ridges Moraine areas by ensuring any future boundary changes can only be made through a public and transparent process that would require the approval of the legislature. The Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023 would also restore protections previously provided by the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act.

“We are following through on our commitment to fully restore these lands and provide enhanced protections to the Greenbelt moving forward,” said Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “At the same time, we remain focused and committed to tackling Ontario’s housing supply crisis and working with our municipal partners to achieve our shared housing targets. We know there’s more work to be done.”

The proposed legislation has been well received. The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) applauds the Ontario government for introducing new legislation that would reverse the government’s earlier decision to remove protection for Greenbelt land for residential development. The association admits the housing affordability crisis is critical for Ontarians, but states that the most successful approaches do not come at the expense of green spaces or thoughtful climate action.