Toronto’s mayor and members of Ontario’s legislature are raising concerns after Ontario’s decision to repeal Toronto’s green roof bylaw, which made it mandatory for green roofs to be built on new commercial, institutional and residential developments with a minimum gross floor area of 2,000 square meters, according to CBC.
Toronto was the first city in North America to have a green roof bylaw. Adopted in 2009, the bylaw led to more than 1,200 green roofs across Toronto. Ontario’s repeal of the bylaw now makes green roofs voluntary.
Alexandra Sanita, spokesperson for Ontario Housing Minister Robert Flack, said the repeal is part of the government’s “bold action to get infrastructure and homes built faster” in Ontario.
“By making green roofs voluntary, builders and taxpayers have the flexibility of choice, while reducing unnecessary costs and keeping Ontario workers on the job,” Sanita said.
Critics of the repeal, such as Mayor Olivia Chow, say the bylaw has helped “divert stormwater and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.”
Additionally, members of Ontario’s legislature who oppose the repeal object to how it was carried out, saying the government did not consult opposition parties, the public, the city or industry stakeholders. They also say the bylaw supported 1,600 jobs in Ontario and contributed to Toronto’s overall health.
