A Place to Grow: Growth plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

A Place to Grow: Growth plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (The Plan) is a long-term plan to provide homes and jobs, promote investment and build communities in the region of the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The 2020 consolidation builds upon the initial Growth Plan, 2006 and responds to the key challenges that the region continues to face over the coming decades; it provides a framework for implementing Ontario government's vision for building stronger, prosperous communities by better managing growth in the region. It establishes the long-term framework for where and how the region will grow, while recognizing the realities facing the cities and smaller communities and acknowledging what governments can and cannot influence. It also provides leadership for improving the ways in which cities, suburbs, towns, and villages will grow over the long-term.
The Plan guiding principles include: support the achievement of complete communities that are designed to support healthy and active living and meet people’s needs for daily living throughout an entire lifetime; provide flexibility to capitalize on new economic and employment opportunities; improve the integration of land use planning with planning and investment in infrastructure and public service facilities; protect and enhance natural heritage, hydrologic, and landform systems, features, and functions; support and enhance the long-term viability and productivity of agriculture by protecting prime agricultural areas and the agri-food network; conserve and promote cultural heritage resources to support the social, economic, and cultural well-being of all communities, including First Nations and Métis communities; integrate climate change considerations into planning and managing growth such as planning for more resilient communities and infrastructure.
Rural areas are included among the priorities areas that The Plan identifies for growth; for instance Municipalities are encouraged to plan for a variety of cultural and economic opportunities within rural settlements to serve the needs of rural residents and area businesses. Water and wastewater infrastructure and stormwater management initiatives are also considered key initiatives for the achievement of the objective of the plan. The Plan also contains also a list of a broad array of important hydrologic and natural heritage features and areas, a vibrant and diverse agricultural land base, irreplaceable cultural heritage resources, and valuable renewable and non-renewable resources. These lands, features and resources are essential for the long-term quality of life, economic prosperity, environmental health, and ecological integrity of the region. They collectively provide essential ecosystem services, including water storage and filtration, cleaner air and habitats, and support pollinators, carbon storage, adaptation and resilience to climate change.
The Policy addresses the improvement of food security among its goals: healthy, local, and affordable food options, and food for future generations are listed among the priorities for growth in the Plan.
The Plan also addresses and combines in its vision and in many other sections the issue of agriculture productivity and sustainability, and climate change resilience. The vision states: that natural areas and agricultural lands will provide a significant contribution to the region’s resilience and ability to adapt to a changing climate. Unique and high quality agricultural lands will be protected for the provision of healthy, local food for future generations. Farming will be productive, diverse, and sustainable.
This Plan recognizes and promotes the important role of rural towns and villages as a focus of economic, cultural and social activities that support surrounding rural and agricultural areas across the GGH. Opportunities to support a diversified rural employment and economy should be promoted by protecting farmland and the viability of the agri-food sector in rural areas. Healthy rural communities are important to the vitality and well-being of the larger region.