NEWS

President’s Report – June 18, 2022

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Thank you for your Association’s membership in FUN and for your (virtual) attendance at this year’s AGM on June 18.

While we are still meeting virtually we are seeing some semblance of normality, despite the changed behaviour regarding work and home. The long-term implications for neighbourhoods can be no more than conjecture.

The events of the past (over) two years reinforce the critical role of residents associations at the local level, and federations of residents associations, at the regional and provincial level, to address policy issues. The mantra “municipalities are a creature of the province” is regularly demonstrated in decisions, and legislation introduced and passed by the provincial government, some positive, but many with long term negative implications for such areas as cultural heritage, urban sprawl, and climate change.

Hamilton Truck Route Master Plan Review

Trucks - Hamilton

The City of Hamilton has completed the Truck Route Master Plan review. The study explored opportunities to provide safe and efficient movement of trucks in Hamilton, support economic activities, minimize negative impacts of truck traffic on sensitive land uses, and balance between the industry and community needs.

Based on the technical analysis and public and stakeholder inputs several alternative solutions were developed and evaluated and a preferred alternative was determined.

The report detailing the study and preferred alternative will be available for review and comment until June 17, 2022.

The Report is available for review online, along with a compendium of the stakeholder engagement.

Densest housing centre in the Western Hemisphere, second only to the Dharavi slums of Mumbai?

Dharavi slums

Subject: Request that you pause federal funding for the YNSE until a deal is made public

Dear Prime Minister,

On behalf of the resident and ratepayer groups in York Region and elsewhere in the GTA, listed below, I respectfully request that your government pause payment to the Government of Ontario of your government’s 40% portion of funding for the Yonge North Subway Extension (YNSE) until such time that the Government of Ontario makes public the details of a financial deal it made sometime in 2021-2022 with the owner of lands on either side of Highway 407 at Yonge Street, and until such time that the Government of Ontario meets all conditions and guarantees for funding set forth by your government.

Opportunities to increase missing middle housing and gentle density, including supports for multigenerational housing

Cornell - Markham

Question 1:

  • What are the biggest barriers and delays to diversifying the types of housing built in existing neighbourhoods?

Response

The question is built on several assumptions – which are unproven:

  1. That the housing price issue can be solved through increasing supply.  Instead we need to address the demand issues, such as land speculation e.g. flipping, vacant housing, the real estate industry practices that force up prices;
  2. That there is a housing shortage when in fact the number of homes increased at a greater rate than population;

Emergency in Ontario

Emergency in Ontario - Rally May 14, 2022

Join the Rally for Communities, Climate & Nature – May 14, 2022, Queen’s Park

Ontario’s environment is under threat.

Greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise again, protections for nature are being dismantled, and mega projects are encroaching on communities.;

This spring we have a chance to choose another path – one that prioritizes people and the planet.

In the lead up to the provincial election, show your support for a flourishing, low-carbon Ontario that offers good green jobs, prioritizes our collective health, and respects Indigenous rights.

Ontario draft transportation plan for Eastern Ontario

Eastern Ontario transportation Map

The Ontario government has released Connecting the East: a draft transportation plan for eastern Ontario, which contains more than 50 near- and long-term actions, including highway expansions and public transit improvements, that will help address gridlock, connect more people to places and support economic growth.

The plan includes the expansion of Highway 417 to four continuous lanes in each direction between Highway 416 and Maitland Avenue in Ottawa, long-term planning work to widen Highway 401 to up to eight lanes in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, improvements to local and inter-community bus services, support for the trucking sector by adding truck stops along Highway 401 and the development of a new marine strategy.

Update on Greenbelt expansion proposal from Province

Line 7 - Oro-Medonte

“We, the 62 undersigned organizations, would like to convey our profound disappointment with the narrow, minimalist and inadequate scope of the government’s proposed expansion to the Greenbelt, as set out in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) phase 2 consultation. We, and over 6,000 members of the public, participated in good faith in the 2021 consultation. Yet, this input was almost entirely ignored.” Ontario Nature

The province asked for further feedback on the proposed expansion of the Greenbelt, with a deadline of April 23, 2022 for submission. This is the response from Ontario Nature and the 62 organizations, including the Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods.

Don’t let the provincial government pave our future

Highway 400 & Finch

Ontario’s election is coming up fast, and at stake is the future we want for our communities.

Former Mayor of Toronto and Greenbelt Council chair David Crombie, and the Friends of the Greater Golden Horseshoe invite you to join them on April 20th at 7 p.m. for an online Call to Action to save – not pave – Ontario’s future.

In the lively discussion you’ll see a compelling array of speakers, and learn more about why highway-based sprawl sacrifices our future – and what we can do to stop it.

Bill 109 – More Homes for Everyone Act

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House construction - Markham

The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (Ontario) is an umbrella group of community associations throughout Ontario. As such we maintain a close interest in the changes to provincial planning legislation introduced by the Government. The latest changes amount to another massive overhaul of the planning process and a new set of directives focussed on supply, rather than demand for homes, but in addition, reducing the role of duly elected municipal councils, and attacking residents who devote their time and energy to contribute to their communities’ development.

The Government’s policy changes, including moving forward with Highway 413, and making municipalities designate more farmland for development, have favoured companies looking to build low-density sprawl outside Toronto.

Underwhelming Greenbelt expansion proposal from Province

Greenbelt stream

“This announcement offers no new protection for the lands that need it and ignores the need to expand the Greenbelt in key areas,” said Tim Gray from Environmental Defence. “If this government was serious about Greenbelt protection, it would have added lands threatened by sprawl development. And it would have announced a stop to its plans to build the completely unnecessary and expensive Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass which will go right through the Greenbelt.”

Tim Gray, Environmental Defence

On March 24, 2022, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs released a Greenbelt Expansion proposal plan. Following public consultation to expand the Greenbelt to shield more green space from being developed, the province is proposing the addition of 13 urban river valleys to the Greenbelt, a horseshoe-shaped swath of protected farmlands, wetlands and watersheds around Toronto.