Developer/Labour Coalition Pushes for Urban Intensification
February/March, 2009

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A coalition of development companies and construction unions has formed to lobby for urban intensification. The group recently released a discussion paper, Building a Sustainable Toronto, which was co-authored by James McKellar, a Professor in the Schulich School of Business at York University and David Amborski, a Professor in Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning.

The coalition’s aims have been partly met since Toronto City Council recently decided to freeze the existing development charge rates until January 31, 2011. However, the discussion paper calls for a broader based strategy, and makes the following recommendations:

1. Use the next two years to assemble the information needed to implement new programs and affect informed decision making for building a sustainable Toronto. This is the time to reduce fees and costs and turn to incentives to stimulate development and economic growth.
2. Move intensification to the forefront of the City’s agenda, undertaking policies and applying tools that will capitalize on the environmental, social and economic benefits.
3. Secure strong industry support and cooperation to address the single biggest challenges the City faces: lack of financial resources to do what is necessary to build a sustainable Toronto. Industry and the City, in partnership, must go forward with this message to the provincial and federal governments.
4. Meet Toronto’s housing challenges. Housing affordability for Torontonians is about the combined costs of consuming housing services and the costs of transportation. Meeting Toronto’s housing challenge requires new thinking to help policy makers determine where resources should be focused to enhance affordability.

The coalition includes representation from developers active in Toronto, including Concord Adex, Daniels Corporation, Menkes Developments, Minto Urban Communities, Monarch Corporation, Sorbara Group and Tridel Corporation, and from the Labourers International Union of North America, Local 183, and the Civil Construction Alliance of Canada. It has reiterated its support for the City of Toronto’s planning goals and has pledged to support it in achieving the following key components.

1. Proper and efficient funding of transit and other infrastructure investments from senior levels of government.
2. Development in designated growth centres where minimal development has occurred to date: Scarborough, Etobicoke and parts of North and East York.
3. Intensification that supports Transit City along avenues and at transportation hubs.
4. Continuing to provide affordable green residential housing to accommodate population growth from immigrants and new residents from across Canada.
5. Creating new neighborhoods and revitalizing old ones with mixed use developments where people can live affordably and sustainably by working and shopping without driving great distances.