Densification Problem

Does Toronto have a population problem?

Yes, we do. The optimum size of a large city which can sustain a high quality of life is between one to two million people. Toronto is currently three million and projected to grow to four million by 2046. Housing unaffordability, traffic congestion, crowding, homelessness, crime, medical waiting times and other problems are all a direct function of the number of people over the optimum size.

So why are we continuing to passively accept that Toronto must continue to grow in perpetuity? We don't have a hope of ever solving our problems if we keep adding to them. I would put an immediate moratorium on approving any more residential towers, until the City votes on a referendum on how large they want their city to become. However, I would not seek a restriction on new buildings up to six stories high, especially on arterial roads.

We learned an important lesson during the first year of the pandemic when the cost of rent actually decreased 10% due to the reduction in the number of incoming residents; a simple and costless solution that can benefit everyone, not just a few people in subsidized houses. Solving a problem doesn't get much easier. The federal and provincial governments both have options they can implement to stop the horizontal and vertical sprawl; they just need the encouragement of Toronto voters. If nothing else, I want to make this election about giving residents a say in how big their city becomes.

Further to this point, I can't speak strongly enough against a recent trend called the Century Initiative to increase Canada's population to 100 million by the year 2100. This is the most misguided, business self-interest and poorly thought policy idea in Canada today. These are people who confuse quantity of life with quality of life. It is in effect a population Ponzi scheme that benefits business leaders and not ordinary residents. Any candidate who embraces this plan will only make our problems worse. It's your city and you get to decide. Your children will thank you.

I've had a number of questions on this point. For more details on my position, please check-out my population question and answer page.