We’re in a Municipal Election—but the Province Looms Large

Premier Doug Ford is not on the ballot, but his government is shaping the present and future of Toronto’s city parks in fundamental ways. 

Right now our parks and public spaces are facing a steady series of attacks. There is the unilateral redevelopment of the iconic Ontario Place landscape. and the unnecessary shutting of the Ontario Science Centre, as well as broad, sweeping changes to municipal planning authority through bills like More Homes Built Faster (Bill 23¹) and Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure (Bill 98).

Through these bills, rules that ensure new residents have adequate parks and greenspace are being weakened in the name of housing affordability and speed of construction. Parkland requirements have been cut in half. For the first time, landowners can compel municipalities to accept encumbered or partial interests in land – including privately-owned publicly-accessible open spaces (POPs) – to satisfy their parkland dedication obligations. If a municipality like the City of Toronto refuses to accept the landowner’s proposal, the landowner can now appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

These changes ignore the detailed, evidence-based parkland planning work done by municipal staff, and are unconnected to the needs of current and future residents. They will negatively impact access to high-quality, ecologically resilient greenspaces for residents in future years. This is a particular risk in the dense transit-oriented communities that are being built along the Ontario Line. 

Recent provincial decisions to eliminate speed cameras and remove bike lanes are also impacting park access and safety. Parkside Drive next to High Park is a powerful example of how a dangerous road can make it more difficult, both practically and psychologically, for people of all ages and abilities to visit a park. The planned removal of bike lanes on major streets including Bloor and University will remove safe active transportation options for visiting multiple local and destination parks. 

We are counting on our new Council to strategize, advocate, and partner with other municipalities to convince the Province to reverse these damaging decisions. Under the Transit Oriented Communities Act (2020) and Bill 23, encumbered land — including land over transit infrastructure — can count toward parkland dedication requirements. Bill 98 (2026) proposes capping this credit at 70% of land area.