Protect efficiency and affordability in Bill-23
What’s at stake?
Municipalities have carefully crafted green standards to ensure new construction is environmentally, socially, and economically responsible. These requirements support their climate commitments, reduce the burden on our strained electricity system, and generate local economic value. The More Homes Built Faster Act (Bill-23), which is being fast-tracked through the Ontario legislature, will take away their authority and inadvertently undermine the affordability benefits that energy-efficient, climate-resilient buildings provide to owners and tenants.
Low-carbon growth
Cities and towns in the GTHA are growing fast and buildings are the number one source of carbon pollution. Green standards are the most powerful climate action municipalities can take.
Healthy homes
Responsible, future-focused development creates vibrant communities, and healthier, more comfortable indoor environments. Local economies get a boost.
Affordability
Quality buildings cost less to operate, especially as energy and carbon prices increase. Building energy efficient new homes now is far more cost-effective than retrofitting them down the road.
“We need to lead by example to ensure design and construction of buildings support carbon reduction and healthy, sustainable, communities.”
Take action on Bill-23
This legislation would override council-approved energy efficient design in Toronto, Ottawa, Brampton, Ajax, Whitby, Pickering, Markham, and other municipalities across Ontario. We are suggesting one amendment to protect green development standards. Support our suggested amendment by writing your own letter or signing on to ours. Read our letter.
Supporting Organizations
350 Ottawa
360 Energy Inc.
Aboriginal Housing Management Association
Achieve Sustainability Inc.
Active Impact Investments
Aerecura Sustainable Builders
Affecting Change Inc.
Affine Climate Solutions
Anahata Events Inc.
Atmospheric Energy Systems
Aya Design in Style
Bay Area Climate Change Council
Biodiversity and Climate Action Collective Niagara
BKR Energy
Bondi Energy Corporation
Bosetech
Brander Architects Inc.
Builders for Climate Action
Building Science Trust
Built Climate Corp.
Calmura Natural Walls Inc.
Canada Green Building Council
Canadian Health Assoc for Sustainability and Equity
Citizens for Climate Action Now (CALL)
Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet
Clean Air Partnership
Climate Action for Lifelong Learners
ClimateActionWR
Climate Pledge Collective
ClimateFast
Community Climate Council
Community Permaculture Lab
EcoCaledon
EcoGen Energy & Build
Ecosystem Energy Services Inc.
Efficiency Canada
EnviroCentre
Environment Hamilton Inc.
ERA Architects
Folkes Construction Inc.
Fourth Pig Green & Natural Construction
Future Majority
Galbraith & Associates
Good Projects
Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet (GASP)
Green Economy Law Professional Corporation
Green Venture
Greening Homes Ltd.
Hilditch Architect Inc.
Hypenotic
Jouleia Inc.
Mantle Developments
Method Engineering
MobilizeTO
MOSS SUND Architects
Nerva Energy Group Inc.
Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign
Ontario Geothermal Association
Ottawa Climate Action Fund
Paradigm Architecture + Design
Passive Buildings Canada
Passive Design Solutions
Passive House 43 Architecture Ltd.
Passive House Canada
Peel Passive House Consulting Inc.
Pembina Institute
Promise Robotics
Properate
Purpose Building
QUEST Canada
R. Mancini and Associates Ltd.
Reep Green Solutions
RENEW Architect
Reshape Strategies
Resilience Design Lab
RFS Energy Consulting & Research Group Inc.
Sage Living Toronto
Sharc Energy
Shift: Action for Pension Wealth & Planet Health
Signal Fire Coaching
Sustainable Waterloo Region
T L Communications
Tenblock
The Architect Builders Collaborative Inc.
The People’s Climate Foundation
The Pocket Change Project
Toronto Environmental Alliance
Toronto350
TWS Building Science
Urban Arboretum Tree Consulting
Urban Berlin Design
Wilderness Committee
Windfall Ecology Centre
Supporting Individuals
Aakash Harpalani
Aaron Waldt
Adam Barker
Adam Cohen
Adam McPherson
Adrian Mohareb
Adrienne Liang
Ahmad Kayello, Purpose Building Inc.
Ainsley Sparkes
Ajay Gupta
Al Cormier
Al Howarh
Alan Slavin
Aleksandra Lazarevic
Alex Lukachko, University of Toronto
Alexandra Konn
Alexis Smith
Allan Baker
Allen Braude
Alvin Tse
Alyssa Schneider
Amalia Tadevosyan
Amanda Cain, Green Party of Canada
Amanda Gordon
Amanda Lynn Snel, Future Majority
Amanda Veglia
Amber Morrison
Amean Asad
Amelinda Berube
Amie Gibbs
Amina Menkad
Amy Jones
Ana Gascon Marco, The Architect Builders Collaborative Inc.
Andrea Gray
Andrea McDowell
Andrea Raso
Andrew Francis
Andrew Hines
Andrew Lam
Andrew Ono
Andrew Schooley
Andrew Stokes
Andrew Vrana
Andy Valencia Rodriguez
Angela Keller-Herzog
Anh Tu Do, Audette Analytics Inc
Anita Purcell
Ann Davis
Anna Kozak
Anna Mancuso
Anna Milner-Hui
Anne Keary
Antigoni Christodoulou
Anya Barkan
Ariane Clark
Ariel Kroon, University of Alberta
Arlene Whittle
Armon Shahnavazy
Avery Parkinson, McMaster University
Bahia Marks
Baraa Al-Chalabi, University of Toronto
Barbara Frey
Barry Colbert
Bart Hawkins Kreps
Barton Li
Becki Playter
Ben Delanghe
Ben McEwen
Bernie Fishbein, Climate Action for Life Long Learners
Beth O’Reilly
Beth Savan
Beverly Jones
Blair Scorgie, Sajecki Planning Inc.
Brad Durant
Brad Sutton
Brandon Lyddon
Brandon Quigley
Breanne Belitski
Brent Moore, Purpose Building
Brett Kerrigan
Brian Moxley
Brian Toller, Tolcor Investments Ltd.
Bruno Bustos Alegria
Bryan Purcell
Caitlin McWade
Calandra Stopps
Cameron MacCarthy-Tilley
Cameron Richardson
Carl Pawlowski
Carla Quinn
Carly Spitzer
Carol Mee, Canadian Health Assoc for Sustainability and Equity
Caroline O’Reilly
Caroline Prochazka
Carolyn Franke
Carolyn Murphy
Carolyn Naftel
Cate Prichard
Catherine Helwig
Catherine Thorn
Chantal Cornu, LGA Architectural Partners
Charles Marshall
Cheryl Durand
Cheryl Hawley
Chris Christodoulou
Chris Higgins
Chris Hilbrecht
Chris Mallinson
Christina Cicconetti
Christine Ball, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of REALTORS Inc
Christian Flores
Christine Doody-Hamilton, Seneca College
Christine Lee
Christine Seketa
Cindy Adams
Cindy Gertsakis
Claire Elizabeth Marshall
Claire Sorley
Colleen Saunders
Craig Bamford
Cristina Guido
Crystal Basi
Cynthia Meyer
Cynthia Wilkey
Dan Stuebing
Daniel Kearns
David B Mallinson
David Booz
David Goldman
David Handelman
David Krolewski
David MacDonald
David McKee
David Merriman
David Patrick Carlton
Dean Anderson
Debbie Schaefer
Deborah Byrne, Resilient Building Consultant
Deepak Kumar
Della Wilkinson, Glebe Community Association Environment Committee
Denise Handlarski
Dennis Bartels
Dennis Bartels
Dennis O’Farrell
Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty, Town of Cobourg
Desi Stefanova
Devanshi Kukadia, Clean Air Partnership
Devon Stopps
Diane Keating, MobilizeTO
Dianne Wilson
Diego Mandelbaum, Creative Energy
Dinah Robinson, Bytown Bees and CAFES Ottawa
Donna Bowen-Willer
Donna Vakalis
Drew Adams
Dustin Carey, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Dylan Durst, Enform
Dylan Ward
Eileen Kinley
Elaine McKee
Elijah Adam Angen
Elise Klesmer
Elizabeth Scott
Elsa Lam, Canadian Architect Magazine
Emily Bootsma
Emily Gray
Emily Pascual
Emily Prochnau
Emily Stopps
Emma Fox, Sustainable Waterloo Region
Enid Moscovitch, Climate Action for Lifelong Learners
Eric Campbell, Integral Group
Eric D Chisholm
Eric Moraitis
Eric Robbins
Eric Ta, Green Communities Canada
Erik Bowden
Erik Jameson Blair
Erin Mallon
Eryn Stoddart
Ewa Shields
Ezekiel Berube
Fadi Masoud, University of Toronto
Feliks Welfeld
Frances Murray
Gabe Szombathelyi, The Architect Builders Collaborative Inc.
Garrett Morgan, University of Toronto
Gary Burrows
Gary Howard
Gillian Woods
Gloria Easby
Gord Cooke
Graysanne Bedell, Parkdale High Park for Climate Action
Hanieh Momeni, BDP Quadrangle
Hanif Montazeri
Harry French, Windfall Ecology Centre
Hasitha Sridharan
Hayley Kazmierowski
Heather MacLean, University of Toronto
Heinrich Feistner
Helen Brenner
Helen Stopps, Toronto Metropolitan University
Helene Armbrust
Henry Szeto
Holly Stemberger
Hyman Blajchman
Ian Trudeau
Ingrid Buday
Ingrid Garcia
Jacques Robichaud
Jack Lacey-Rogers
Jade Schofield
Jake Wolf
James Mallinson, The Architect Builders Collaborative
James Riley, Lightspark Software Inc.
Jamie Dabner, Integral Group
Janani Sivarajah, Ontario Urban Forest Council
Jane Fogal, Town of Halton Hills
Janice Dunk
Janna Levitt
Jasmine Lyn
Jasmine Robinson
Jason Koulouras
Jean Brown
Jean Jacobs
Jeff Leader
Jeffery Fletcher
Jen Baker
Jennifer Adams
Jennifer Harmer
Jeremy Waud
Jeremy Wohleber, Diverso Energy
Jessica Conroy
Jill Adams
Jill Tonini
Jim Koegler
Jim McPhail, Calgary Climate Hub
Jiri Skopek, 2030 Districts
Jitka Jarolimek, Canada Green Building Council
Jj Fueser
Joan Haysom
Joan Laurie
Joanna Jackson
Joanna Melnyk
Joanna Priori
JoAnne Hunter
Joanne Menchions
Jodi Cain
Joe Fraser
Joel Sullivan
John Bleasby
John Robinson, University of Toronto
Johnathan Chan
Jolie Gareis
Jonas Antanaitis
Joonsoo Sean Lyeo
Jordan Erasmus
Josh Clavir
Joshua Canuel, Integral Group
Judith Martin, MJMA Architecture + Design
Judith Murray
Juhee Oh
Julia Duffenais
Julia Morgan
Julian Terpstra
Julie McMillan
Julie Welker
Justin Reist
Kaneera Uthayakumaran, Future Majority
Karen Kelly Archer
Karen Smith
Karijn de Jong, Bayshore Home Healthcare Solutions
Karl Dingfeld
Kasia Kmiec
Kat Senyk
Kate Thomson
Katelyn Tozer
Kathleen Moleski
Kathy Garneau
Kathy Glazier
Katrina McHugh
Kayle Campbell, Carleton University
Keagan Rankin, University of Toronto
Keagan Urbanowicz
Kelley Hindrichs
Kelli Irvine
Kelsey Eakin, University of Toronto
Kerry Johnston
Kevin Devitt
Kim Bates
Kim-Marie Degenkolb, The Architect Builders Collaborative Inc.
Kristen Aspevig
Kirsty Beck-Lorillon, ZON Engineering
Kristen Jaczko
Krysten Bates
Kurtis Strickland
Kyle Fridgen
Kyra Chisholm
Larry Neufeld
Laura Adams
Laura Husak
Lauren Burkhardt
Lauren Streitmatter
Laurie Bennie
Leah Leon
Leif Einarson
Lesley McDonell
Lesley McDonell
Leslie Domenico
Leslie Weir
Leya Barry
Liana Franciosi
Liat Margolis, Univesity of Toronto
Liisa Kelly
Lily Watson
Linda McDougall
Linda Petersen
Linda Tyndall
Lisa Dagher
Lisa Westerhoff, Integral Group
Lise Downe
Lois Corey
Lori Bearg
Lorna Tener
Lorraine Tinsley
Lucas Porter
Lyndsey Ehgoetz
Lynne Raxlen
Lysanne Brault
Madison Toth, Community Living Hamilton
MAGDALENA VANDER KOOY
Magdalene Carson
Maggie Hine
Malca Gaffe
Mallory Fitz-Ritson
Mar Winfield, York University
Mara Brotman
Marc Phen
Marcia Unger
Margaret Nickels
Margarita Lam Antoniades
Margot Dawson
Margot Jane Duncan
Marianne Touchie, University of Toronto
Marianne Wynes
Marilyn Osborne
Marilynn Kuhn
Marina Lobo
Mark carver
Mark Henschel
Mark Hutchinson
Martin Gauthier, Diamond Schmitt Architects
Mary Gaudet
Mary Lat
Mary Rockett
Massimo Chiarella
Mathieu Poirier
Matt Carlsson
Matthew Hogan
Matthew Jarsky
Matthew Kerner, Creative Energy
Matthew Lamers
Matthew Nash
Matthew Richardson
Maureen Maguire
Max Daviau
Max Mathies
Meena Alcozai
Mehrdad Shirinbakhsh, Purpose Building
Melissa DaSilva
Melissa Dosne, Canada Green Building Council
Melissa Krauel
Melody Micha
Michaael Barkley
Michael Brigham
Michael Hennessey
Michael Hoy
Michael Lam
Michael Mallinson
Michael Mousa
Michael Pires
Michelle Hjort
Mike Cairns
Mike Darmon
Mike Hager, Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation
Mike Hillcoat
Mini Mathews
Miriam Sager
Morgan Levison
Morwyn Griffith
Murray Barrett
Nancy Chisholm
Nancy Stopps
Nancy Zhou
Natalie telfer
Natalie Telfer
Nataliya Kelbas
Natasha Mathew
Nathan Budd
Nathan Schaper
Nathaniel Sneyd-Dewar
Nicholas Cloet
Nicholas Dumoulin, Dream Office REIT
Nicholas Provart
Nick Philip
Nicole Yardy
Nik Schruder
Nikos Christodoulou
Norma Panetta
Paige Hahmann
Pamela Laidler
Parteek Singh
Pat Cross
Patricia Larkin
Patrick Andres
Patrick DeRochie
Patty Haardeng
Paul Antze
Paul Carney, Pivotal Partners
Paul DeCampo
Paul Dowsett
Paul Erlichman
Paulina Czajkowski
Pauline Hare
Pauline Prowse
Philomena Meffe
Phuong Vu
Priscilla Chew, Purpose Building
Steve Easterbrook, University of Toronto
Quinn Hachey
Rachel Gilliland, Town of Aurora
Rachel Snelgrove
Raphael Lopoukhine
Rebecca Black
Rebecca Mallinson
Rebecca Rooney
Rebecca Rooney, Waterloo Wetland Lab
Rehanna Devraj-Kizuk, RDH Engineering
Rita Bilerman
Robert Carroll
Robert Kaross
Robert Wilson, ICLEI Canada
Robin Hutcheson, Arborus Consulting
Rochelle Rubinstein
Rochelle Rumney
Roger Dickhout
Roger Peters
Ron Johnson
Ronald Macfarlane
Rosanna Abrahim
Rose Mastin Wood, University of Toronto
Rosemary Horsewood
Royston Dsouza
Ruffy Ruan
Russell Unger
Ryan Bruer, BDP Quadrangle
Ryan Danks
Ryan Mitchell
Saba Khan
Sam Hasty, Active Impact Investments
Samantha Tremmel Lamb
Samantha River-Stevenson
Samantha Vatcher
Sandra Cooke
Sandra Iskandar, The Architect Builder Collaborative
Sandra Lobo
Sandra Rohler
Sandra Yilmaz
Sandy Clipsham
Sara Udow
Sarah Borde
Sarah Lawson
Sarah Margolius
Sarah Miller
Sarah Shields
Sarah Wakefield
Scott Armstrong
Scott Bagg
Scott Davies
Scott Foster, The City of Barrie
Scott Ringler
Scott Rivard, Zon Engineering Inc.
Scott Smith
Sean Leighland
Sean Cosgrove, Ecologics Design
Sean D Martin
Sean Kavanagh
Sharon Boddy
Sharon Soltesz-Marley
Sharon Zeiler
Shaylah J Lukas
Sheila Colla
Sheldon Atos
Shelley Rempel
Shoshanna Saxe
Shunmathi Shan
Simon Sahi, Enerlife Consultiing
Sonam Vashisth
Sonja Wilson, Reshape Infrastructure Strategies
Souheil Saade
Stan Nowak
Stan Nowak
Stephanie Radcliffe
Stephen C. Quigley, The Colborne Architectural Group Pacific Inc.
Stephen D’Angelo
Stephen Magneron, Homesol Building Solutions Inc.
Stephen Rouse
Steven Jones
Stewart Dutfield
Sue Dexter
Sue Lott
Sue Mallinson
Sue Sherban, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Suneel Gupta
Susan Ginsberg
Susan Hobson
Susan May
Susan Tanner
Susan Tanner
Sydney Clarysse
Sydney Sandluck
Sylvia Summers
Tara Guitard
Tazmin Holy
Tim Grant
Tim Short
Tim Weber, Diverso Energy
Tineasha Brenot
Tobias Henkes
Todd Van Allen
Tor Oiamo
Tova Davidson
Trevor McLeod, Starlight Investments
Uma Kalkar
Vania Abbasi
Victoria Coffin
Victoria Sharpe
Voca Moka
Walter Unger
Wardah Anwer
Wen Jie Li
Wesley Kwong
Will Banks
William Nixon
Yasaman Soofi
Yasmin Mehdi
Zafar Rakhmatov
Zeina Elali
FAQs
What’s involved in complying with municipal development standards? What makes these buildings different?
Buildings built to green standards feature quality doors and windows, water efficient fixtures, good insultation, high-efficiency heating and cooling, and airtightness with good ventilation. These technologies and techniques are readily available.
Do cities have the legal authority to implement municipal development standards?
Absolutely. Municipalities make community planning decisions every day and Green Development Standards are no different. GDS use those municipal planning authorities to ensure that better homes and communities are designed for its residents. The Toronto Green Standard was introduced in 2010 and has not been challenged (and Toronto has no unique authorities in this regard).
How much more does it cost to build healthy, green, energy efficient homes? Who pays the premium?
Cost varies depending on the building type and community-specific Green Development Standards, but typically it’s no more than a 3% incremental cost for the developer. The developer may or may not pass on some or all of this to the initial purchaser depending on local market conditions.
Who benefits most?
Consumers and communities benefit most. Quality homes save on monthly utility bills and increase indoor health and comfort for the people who live in them. Many homeowners and tenants suffer from poorly built homes that are expensive to operate and uncomfortable to live in. With energy efficiency regulations for existing buildings needed soon, investing in quality new construction up front prevents expensive retrofits for consumers down the road.
Which cities already have them in the GTHA?
The City of Toronto, Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Whitby, and the Town of Ajax are the only municipalities in Ontario with tiered, mandatory standards. The cities of Brampton, Markham, and Vaughan use a points-based approach to green standards, with a menu of compliance options but no mandatory requirements. Many other municipalities are actively pursuing new or better Green Development Standards after declaring climate emergencies.
Is there an exemplary standard?
The Toronto Green Standard is a leading standard in the GTHA due to its streamlined approach, incentives for exceeding minimum requirements, and predictable roadmap for industry. Carbon intensity requirements provide a clear pathway to net-zero emissions in 2050.
Who opposes municipal development standards?
Some developers oppose these building standards because of the incremental cost. Municipalities regularly consult with local developers when creating or updating green standards. The regulations can be designed to be flexible for developers, as long as they ensure uptake and are effective at reducing carbon and developing efficient, economical buildings.
What are the local economic benefits?
Smart, responsible development creates thriving and connected communities built for the future, with easy to access greenspaces, and healthier homes with better air quality and comfort. Local economies get a boost from developing green job skills for green construction, and creating savings that generally stay in the community. These buildings are also more resilient – they resist flooding, perform better in extreme temperatures and weather.
Other Resources
- Municipal toolkit on Green Development Standards from Clean Air Partnership
- Codes for climate toolkit on building codes from Efficiency Canada
- Zero Emissions Building Framework from City of Toronto