Building Sustainable Urban Communities in Ontario

This report outlines the environmental and economic costs of urban sprawl in southern Ontario. The report assesses existing provincial policies in Ontario against a provincial policy framework that reflects smart growth principles. The report also examines institutional, political, economic,social and ideational barriers to the implementation of smart growth policies in Ontario and highlights six key areas for action by the province.These include the establishment of a provincial policy framework for urban sustainability and smart growth, improved coordination among provincial agencies, the creation of regional coordination bodies in the Greater Toronto Area, improved financial sustainability for municipalities, and the removal of provincial financial incentives for urban sprawl.