Doug Ford, Candidate for Ontario Premier, Would Open Toronto Greenbelt to Development

A prominent conservative with an infamous name is promoting single-family home development in the Toronto greenbelt as a way to release pressure on the Toronto housing market.

1 minute read

May 7, 2018, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Ontario, Canada

The Oak Ridges Moraine, shown here, marks one end of the Toronto Greenbelt. | NormanEinstein / Wikimedia Commons

Progressive Conservative party leader Doug Ford, the brother of the infamous former mayor of Toronto Rob Ford, is running for premier of Ontario, establishing himself as the antithesis of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and reminding observers of President Trump.

Ford was recorded speaking about his position on the Toronto Greenbelt at an event at the end of April, saying the following:

We will open up the Greenbelt, not all of it, we’re going to open a big chunk of it up and we’re going to start building and making it more affordable and putting more houses out there.

When asked later to clarify his comments, Ford said any land developed in the current Greenbelt would be replaced.

"The Greenbelt covers 325 km from the Oak Ridges Moraine to the Niagara River, and was protected in legislation by the Ontario Liberal government in 2005 as a natural buffer against urban sprawl," according to an article by Antonella Artuso.

Wendell Cox penned an opinion piece for the Financial Post expressing support for Ford's idea to develop single-family homes in the Greenbelt.

Monday, April 30, 2018 in Toronto Sun

Large historic homes and white picket fences line a street.

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

March 23, 2023 - The Washington Post

Buses in downtown Seattle on the dedicated 3rd Avenue bus lanes

Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations

An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.

March 28, 2023 - Axios

Amtrak Acela Express train passing through Harrison station in Newark, New Jersey

‘Train Daddy’ Andy Byford to Oversee Amtrak’s High-Speed Rail Efforts

Byford, who formerly ran NYC Transit and Transport for London, could bring renewed vigor to the agency’s plans to expand regional rail in the United States.

March 28, 2023 - StreetsBlog NYC

A row of Victorian homes in San Francisco, California

San Francisco Rents Cheaper Now Than in 2020

Though ‘cheap’ is a relative term.

March 30 - San Francisco Examiner

25 mph speed limit sign partially obscured by red and orange fall leaves

Study: Seattle’s Lower Speed Limits Reduced Crash Injuries

A change in the city’s speed limits has been shown to reduce the likelihood of injuries during collisions.

March 30 - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Couple embracing happily in front of home with "SOLD" sign

Millennials Now Majority Homeowners

Just over half of people in the ‘Y’ generation now own homes, but the largest generation also continues to dominate the rental market.

March 30 - RentCafé

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.