MPP JOURNAL for the week of June 11, 2021

Smart Growth

Our government is moving forward with Smart Growth, a strategy for promoting and managing growth in ways that sustain a strong economy, build strong communities and promote a healthy environment.

Governments have always planned ahead and built for growth, thinking about where to build public services, like roads, transit, water and sewer services. Governments have not always planned in a comprehensive, coordinated way though. Ontario Smart Growth will be a coordinated approach to issues such as the placement of public services. We have never been faced with the rapid rate of growth that is upon us now.

Ontario Smart Growth will be a long-term, forward-looking strategy for making our communities more livable, for improving our quality of life and for strengthening our economic competitiveness. This framework will ensure we foster growth to keep Ontario strong, growing and ready for the 21st century.

Part of the Smart Growth initiative is to encourage growth in areas where it will have the least impact on the environment. Our government believes in a sound balance between development and environmental protection of agricultural lands and natural heritage resources.

Transportation is also important to making Smart Growth work within our communities. Since 1995, the government has invested more than $5 billion in the province's highway system. We are determining how to best expand and manage our highways through a series of major transportation corridor assessment studies. A modern transportation network is vital to continued prosperity in Ontario.

Planning new highways, more efficient trade corridors and expanded international gateways now will help us continue to compete and win in the 21st century. The transportation initiative we have proposed will be one ingredient in helping us to deal with some of the challenges that commuters and municipalities are facing.

The Government of Ontario believes very strongly in a high quality of life of all. Through cutting taxes, reducing red tape, balancing the budget and creating jobs, we have ensured that the economy is on a solid footing. A strong economy is the foundation of prosperity and to affording services important to people and to preserving our social safety net.

The province is committed to addressing homelessness through our Provincial Homelessness Strategy. We have also taken a number of steps to encourage the investment in rental housing. With Smart Growth the government will look at productive ways to encourage private sector construction to get back into building affordable housing.

A successful Smart Growth strategy is not something that this government can create alone. Making Smart Growth work will require the cooperation, support and innovative ideas from people all across Ontario. This includes our young people, and representatives from communities in various sectors across Ontario.

Our government is undertaking a province-wide consultation process to hear what the public, key stakeholders and community representatives from various sectors have to say about Smart Growth in their own regions. One consultation was recently held within my riding, and included the officials from local municipalities. Excellent ideas and thoughts were brought forward to help Smart Growth work within Dufferin-Peel- Wellington-Grey.

If you have any questions or comments about Ontario Smart Growth, please feel free to visit the Ontario Smart Growth website at www.smartgrowth.gov.on.ca or you may contact my office at 1-800-265-1603.

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