Note as of June 3, 2015, this 2006 post was before I knew about Agenda 21:

More of us, living better
www.thestar.com, Jun 16 ’06

A friend of mine commented:

I think this is the biggest example of central planning I have ever seen proposed in North America. The province wants to plan how big your house is, how much land is allotted to each suburban unit, where houses are in relation to business, establish minimum population densities and so on.

One way of looking at this plan is in terms of complete fantasy. Here’s a quote:

So what will the region look like in 25 years, with 11.5 million people — up from 7.8 million now — packed more tightly together?

Better, says Caplan.

Bringing more people into an area can turn car-dependent strip malls, like those on Kingston Rd. in Toronto, into lively neighbourhoods like Bloor West Village.

In other words, the Ontario government is so powerful and God-like that its plan will determine what 11.5 million people will have accomplished in 25 years. And of course Ontarians will be packed more tightly together – like sardines in a can, since everybody realizes that we are all happier and more successful packed more tightly together. What a wonderful phrase – so descriptive of human potential in Ontario.

Places to Grow: Better Choices, Brighter Future – Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe – February 2005 (http://www.pir.gov.on.ca/userfiles/page_attachments/Library/4/DraftPTG_Feb16_Full_web.pdf?N_ID=4)
www.pir.gov.on.ca

(Original Post)