Ford bulldozes cities' green building powers despite widespread support

Written By Peter Allan

A Toronto home with a green roof in a residential neighbourhood, supported by the city’s green roof incentives. Photo by Matin Sarfraz/ Canada's National Observer

By Abdul Matin Sarfraz

Most Torontonians support stronger green building rules — even as the Ford government removes the city’s ability to create them.

A new poll released by the Toronto Environmental Alliance and conducted by Abacus Data found 84 per cent of Torontonians support rules that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and 92 per cent support standards that make buildings safer during heat waves and floods. Three-quarters say green building rules ensure homes are built properly.

At least 14 municipalities in Ontario, including Toronto and Hamilton, have adopted policies requiring new buildings to meet higher environmental performance benchmarks.

Experts say these standards, developed over years by municipalities, are designed to ensure new buildings are safer, cleaner, more resilient and more affordable to operate in the face of a growing climate crisis.

But earlier this year, the Ford government passed a controversial piece of legislation stripping municipalities of the ability to require higher green building standards than the provincial code. The change affects Toronto’s Green Standard, which for more than 15 years has guided new building design on energy efficiency, stormwater management, EV-ready parking and green roofs that reduce extreme heat.

READ MORE

All reporting produced as part of this project is free to the public and is not behind National Observer's paywall.

 
Peter Allan
Previous

Canada's biggest battery storage project underway in Eastern Ontario
Next

Toronto slashes single-use waste by third