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Piecemeal national programsDirecting Ontario's growthradar, but that doesnt mean Continued from page 12The provinces 2006 Growth Plan for the Greaterthere wont be lobbying for Youve got a good plan hereGolden Horseshoe was designed to curb sprawl and pro-change over the next few and it makes a lot of sense, butmote denser, transit-oriented communities.months, said Halton Chair Carr, you need to put infrastructureMunicipalities were directed to ensure a minimum of a former Tory MPP.where youll get the best bang40 per cent of all new residents settle within the alreadyHis municipality of Halton is for the buck, said RCCAOdeveloped boundaries.among the fastest growing in Executive Director AndyThat still means 60 per cent of development can go onthe country and councillors are Manahan.greenfield land, but some municipalities set the barnot prepared to meet mandated There is a limit to how muchhigher, with Markham having an extensive debate aboutgrowth targets if they dont get the new-home market canpreserving green space before settling on a maximum 40help paying for that new popula-absorb, he said.per cent.tions needs.Manahan agrees with munic-The province also identified 25 urban cores with evenWere not going to have the ipal leaders that national pro-higher intensification targets for jobs and residents. taxpayers of Halton pay the costs grams for things such as transitThe centres range from Waterloo to Milton andwhile the developers make the and cities are crucial and thatPickering. profit, especially when home program-based, piecemeal fund-While many, such as downtown Toronto and Hamilton,sales are brisk, he said.ing wont cut the mustard in theare already established, there are others, such as VaughanHomebuilding is also boom-future.and Mississauga, that were blank-slate suburban waste-ing in York Region, where the Also difficult for municipali-lands now aiming to be suburban mini-downtowns.region has racked up a debt of ties is that revisions to theThe plan dovetailed with other key pieces of legisla-$1.4 billion to build infrastruc-Development Charges Act by thetion, such as the 2005 Greenbelt Act, that redefined theture it knows is needed while former Mike Harris governmentnature of development in Southern Ontario.counting on development charg-mean many projects are exemptA proposed amendment to the Places to Grow planes to pay for it later.from the charges. So, if a grow-for the Greater Golden Horseshoe was released for con-Manahan, the Ontario con-ing municipality needs a newsultation in 2010, but has not yet passed.struction association director, hospital or a new city hall, tax-It would allow Simcoe County to develop employ-said the wave of growth is clearly payers have to pay.ment lands that some have said will allow developmentalready coming, even if the fund-Municipalities have repeat-to "leapfrog" the Greenbelt that is supposed to rein it in.ing hasnt been settled. If new edly asked Premier DaltonThe plan lays out principles and policy directions forhome and business costs are McGuinty to revise the act butinfrastructure, but offers no specific funding mecha-driven up, people will move fur-he has made it clear it is not innisms.ther out, making the live/work/his plans.It also cites a report estimating costs of new infra-PLAN FOR GROWTH:The Province's 2006 growth plan wasplay communities envisioned by Progressive Conservativestructure could be reduced by 20 per cent as communi-designed to curb urban sprawl and promote denser, transit-orientated Places to Grow much harder to Leader Tim Hudak has also pub-ties become more compact and efficient.communities.achieve, he said.licly said revisions are not on hisWE WILL NOT KNOWINGLY BE UNDERSOLDHOME OF EMPLOYEE PRICINGSHARE OUR PRIDE SHARE OUR PRICEWITH UP TO$$+12,0001,000FOR ELIGIBLE I N PRICE ADJUSTMENTS COSTCO MEMBERSENDS JUNE 30! HURRY IN!33 time Winner of thOveer $14,000,000 in Inventory Presidents & 468 new vehicles in stock Awawwwr.oak-land.comdto choose from!570 Trafalgar Road., Oakville at the QEW 905.844.3273Must be a member in good standing of Costco on or before March 31, 2011. All manufacturer rebates applied. HST to be paid on all rebates applied.AXZ Plan rules apply. 13 Thursday, June 23, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com