As many are aware, Toronto has a housing crisis. Changes need to be made to address it. The City plans to pass a piece of legislation called Expanded Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON). This legislation will affect our neighbourhood and as such TOCA wants to share some important details and concerns.

What is EHON and how will it affect you?

EHON is a proposal to permit multiplex housing in all residential areas throughout the City of Toronto, significantly increasing density in all neighbourhoods. These homes can contain up to 4 residential units including small-scale retail, service and office uses.

What’s needed to meet housing goals?

City Planning has said “In 2021, there were 405,360 single-detached, semi-detached, and row homes in Toronto; adding one unit to just under 11% of these homes could yield the required units.”

Top five (5) concerns

TOCA feels that proposed legislation overtly benefits developers while ignoring impacts to infrastructure, property taxes, environmental concerns and the preservation of character of residential neighbourhoods.

Here are our top five concerns: 

1. City Planning recommends waiving all development fees that would normally apply to multiplexes. Required infrastructure upgrades will be financed by taxpayers. 

2. There are no provisions to address increased pressure on infrastructure including schools, public transportation, parking, and sewers, in single family neighbourhoods. 

3. The City’s tree canopy will be affected as there are no provisions to protect and preserve the tree canopy or soft landscaping of redeveloped lots. 

4. Vacant homes are on the rise in Toronto with an increase of “92,346 over the past five years” (Source: Globe and Mail, Feb 15, 2022). 

5. The re-zoning applies to all residential neighbourhoods as opposed to adding one unit to ~11% of homes to satisfy the demand (Source: Toronto.ca, 2021). 

You can find a more detailed overview here.

Additionally, there has been no analysis as to whether this has worked in other jurisdictions, the legislation appears to ignore the “Smart City” growth plans and silences the concerns of communities (as it’s on the heels of Bill 23 – the “Build More Homes Faster Act” – which removes the ability of community members to voice concerns in the Ontario Land Tribunal).

We also encourage residents to fill out this survey on Bill 23 which includes impacts to the Greenbelt.

Concerned about EHON? Here’s what you can do (ideally by Feb 15)

1. Write a letter to city planning at EHON@toronto.ca, to our local councillor, Amber Morley, Councillor_Morley@toronto.ca and to Mayor Tory mayor_tory@toronto.ca. We have drafted a short letter with key points here which you are welcome to include.

2. Sign this petition on change.org

SIGN PETITION HERE