On August 28, 2020, the Province released the amended Amendment 1 to the 2019 Provincial Growth Plan and new market-based Land Needs Assessment methodology (now in effect). These Provincial changes intend to increase housing supply, create jobs, attract business investment and enable better alignment with infrastructure.
The associated documents and Environmental Registry of Ontario decision notices can be found at:
The following provides an overview of key Provincial changes that have been made:
Amendment 1, Schedule 3 changes to population and employment forecasts confirm the extension of the planning horizon to the year 2051.
Updated Schedule 3 to reflect the reference forecast as follows for Peel.
Region of Peel
Distribution of Population and Employment for the Greater Golden Horseshoe to 2051
Population
Employment
2,280,000
1,070,000
The final amendment confirms the approach that the Growth Plan Schedule 3 forecasts may be considered as minimums for planning and managing growth and higher forecasts may be established through the Municipal Comprehensive Review. However, these higher forecasts will not apply to Provincial ministries and agencies.
Includes a new market-based Land Needs Assessment Methodology that allows municipalities to reflect changing market conditions.
On September 10, 2020, regional staff delivered a staff report to Council to endorse the previous July 31st staff level comments on the Proposed Amendment/LNA.
On June 16, 2020 the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing released two documents that propose changes to A Place to Grow - Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019. This update includes proposed changes to the population and employment forecasts, the horizon year for planning, and other policies to increase housing supply, create jobs, attract business investment and better align with infrastructure.
The proposed amendment will have an impact of the Peel 2041 Official Plan Review and other program areas that utilize the growth forecasts to support program planning and service delivery. Impacts include the allocation of new growth to the local municipalities, additional lands needed through Settlement Area Boundary Expansion, and the assessment of infrastructure capacity to accommodate the forecasted growth.
In January 2019, the Ministry of the Province released proposed changes to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 (see below), which included the introduction of provincially significant employment zones (PSEZ), which are now in-effect. Six different PSEZ are located in employment areas across the Region of Peel (Zones 13 to 18), as shown on the Province's interactive map. The PSEZ are intended to identify key employment areas, protect them for the longer term, and act as an economic development tool. The Province has outlined a three-phase process to guide the refinement of the PSEZ, and Peel staff prepared comments on the proposed PSEZ mapping and policy framework in consultation with local municipalities.
On February 27, 2020, a staff report to Regional Council described the PSEZ framework and implications for the Peel Settlement Area Boundary Expansion Study. A full timeline of the PSEZ process, Peel staff comments, and reporting, is available below.
Phase 1
The Province received requests for refinement of the proposed PSEZ mapping in Amendment #1 to the Growth Plan, 2017 and make minor updates to reflect alignment with municipal official plans.
January 15, 2019 - The Province issued proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan, 2017.
February 28, 2019 - Regional staff presented comments on the proposed PSEZ to Regional Council and submitted them to the Province on that day.
March 28, 2019 - Following a coordinated review of the PSEZ with local municipal staff, Peel staff's detailed comments and requests for mapping refinement were submitted to the Province. These requests were based on the outlined PSEZ identification criteria.
Phase 2
The release of the Growth Plan, 2019 included refined PSEZ mapping in May 2019. The Province made some changes based on requests received from organizations or private parties and indicated they would continue to accept new requests for reconsideration.
May 16, 2019 - The Growth Plan, 2019 came into effect and included updated PSEZ mapping. The mapping provided did not reflect all of the changes submitted previously by Regional staff.
September 10, 2019 - Following the revised PSEZ mapping of May 2019, Peel staff submitted revised detailed comments and requests for mapping refinement to the Province as supporting material for a meeting to occur the next day. Private requests for refinement sent to the Province were also shared with Peel staff at this time.
December 20, 2019 - Updated Phase 2 mapping was released, as shown on the Province's interactive map, while the Province continues to review requests for refinement and for new PSEZ.
The Province will consult with stakeholders on the long-term vision and policy implementation for these zones and how they can be used as tools for investment, infrastructure planning, and economic development.
Upcoming - Entering PSEZ Phase 3, Regional staff will continue to consult with the Province on the evolution of this process and on the longer-term vision of the zones.
On May 16, 2019 the Province of Ontario released A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This is the Province’s updated long-term plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, to plan for growth and development in a way that supports economic prosperity, protects the environment, and helps communities achieve a high quality of life. The Places to Grow Act, 2005 enables the development of regional growth plans that guide government investments and land use planning policies. This latest version of the Growth Plan makes policy changes related to:
Employment Planning
Agricultural System & Natural Heritage System
Settlement Area Boundary Expansions
Major Transit Station Areas
Rural Settlements
Intensification Targets & Designated Greenfield Area Density Targets
The Province also released updated mapping for Provincially Significant Employment Zones and established a phased process to refine and define the zones, described on an online web portal.
The Province passed Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 on June 13, 2019 which makes changes to thirteen Acts, including the Planning Act, Development Changes Act and the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) Act, among others. The Region provided comments on Bill 108, which can be found on the June 13, 2019 Council agenda. To implement the changes resulting from Bill 108, the Province is working through a series of draft regulations. Bill 108 changes to the Planning Act (except for those related to the new community benefits charges) came into force on September 3, 2019. These changes include:
Broadening the LPAT’s jurisdiction and decision-making powers in major land use planning matters;
Reducing timelines for municipalities to make planning decisions;
Removal of certain “third party” appeals;
Authorizing the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to mandate the use of a community planning permit system;
Requiring municipalities to authorize additional residential units in both a primary dwelling and ancillary building or structure; and,
Scoping the use of inclusionary zoning.
For more information, please visit the Province’s website.
The Province released Proposed Amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 on January 15, 2019. This consultation proposed changes to the Growth Plan, 2017. Majority of these changes came into effect through Growth Plan, 2019.
On April 30, 2014 the Province introduced the Places to Grow: Amendment 2 to the Growth Plan and was in effect until June 30, 2019.
The Province of Ontario released Amendment 2 to the Places to Grow, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe which updated the population and employment forecasts for 2031, 2036 and 2041 (seen in the table below).
The following are the key policy directions found within the Growth Plan:
Growth forecasts;
Intensification policies and targets (40 per cent for built areas); and
Density targets (200 persons and jobs per hectare) for urban growth centres (which includes downtown Brampton and the Mississauga City Centre) and greenfield areas (a combined density of 50 residents and jobs per hectare).
Distribution of Population and Employment for the
Greater Golden Horseshoe to 2041
The Region provided comments to the Province on proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement, 2019, endorsed by Council on October 10, 2019 - Council Report.
The Clean Water Act, 2006 is the Province’s source water protection legislation that responds to recommendations from the Walkerton Inquiry Report recommending that drinking water supplies be protected at source. To ensure protection of drinking water resources Source Protection Plans have been prepared for each Source Protection Area. Peel Region has two areas: Credit Valley/Toronto Region/Central Lake Ontario Region and Halton-Hamilton Region.
The current Peel Region Official Plan has good accessibility policy coverage under the housing, transportation system, parkland, open space and trails, and human services sections that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act’s and Integrated Accessibility Standards. Accessibility policies within the Peel Region Official Plan will be reviewed, updated and/or clarified, as necessary, to ensure that policy direction and terminology are current and up to date.
