The Ontario government has repealed a green roof bylaw in the City of Toronto that has been in place since 2009, a move that is drawing ire from city leaders and the opposition as the program is credited for the installation of 1,200 green roofs, all of which contribute to increased energy efficiency, urban cooling, and flood prevention. Further, the decision could impact up to 1,600 jobs.
Toronto was the first community in North America to pass a green roof bylaw, which required new commercial, institutional, and residential developments with a minimum gross floor area of 2,000 square meters to include green roofing systems.
The bylaw has been repealed using a provision in the City of Toronto Act, which removes the city’s authority to enforce the bylaw, which means that green roofs are no longer mandatory.
Alexandra Sanita, spokesperson for Ontario Housing Minister Robert Flack, said the move is part of the government’s “bold action to get infrastructure and homes built faster” in the province. “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 in an email.
The move is being criticized due to the lack of consultation and leaders like Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner are calling for the development of a provincial green roof standard to protect jobs at risk and reinforce the benefits of green roofs.
