The Municipal Leaders for the Greenbelt are mayors and councillors from across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area who support the Greenbelt as a permanent feature of Ontario’s landscape that is integral to our region’s success.

A Greener Future

The Greater Golden Horseshoe is one of the fastest growing regions in North America. Over 9 million Ontarians call it home and the region is expected to grow to 13.5 million residents and 6.3 million jobs by 2041. Meeting the needs of that growth is both a challenge and an opportunity. Much of the region’s past growth has been in the form of low-density, car-dependent suburbs. However, this form of development has resulted in loss of farmland, increased infrastructure costs, traffic congestion and energy use, reduced air and water quality (which has impacts on human health), and the loss of green space, habitats and biodiversity. The changing climate and increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events also creates additional pressures on the region’s communities, agricultural production, infrastructure and natural systems.

Sustainable growth means a prosperous Greenbelt

To ensure we meet our goals, it is imperative we use land more efficiently, create livable communities, reduce commute times, protect valued resources and support a strong and competitive economy. Our residents value variety, choice and accessibility, such as:

• A diverse mix of land uses
• A variety of housing types including affordable housing
• Employment opportunities
• High-quality public open space
• Transportation options and accessibility to stores and services

Protecting the planet is integral to prosperity

We must keep in mind that growing prosperous communities can put stress on natural resources. Climate change is not only a critical driver that needs to be brought into the mainstream of all our planning and development activities but is now a requirement in Official Plans. Drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are essential to reduce our contribution to climate change and advance our region’s participation in the emerging low carbon economy. Residents deserve strong, healthy communities which is why it’s important to:

• Understand the actions needed to improve conservation of our water supply
• Build resiliency into our stormwater systems
• Provide increased energy efficiency of water systems
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions from the moving of people and goods by providing lower carbon options like transit, cycling, walking, and freight