"Toronto was the first in North America to have a green roof bylaw. Adopted in 2009, the bylaw 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 metres. The bylaw led to more than 1,200 green roofs across Toronto, according to the city, but the province is now making the roofs voluntary."
"Alexandra Sanita, spokesperson for Ontario Housing Minister Robert Flack, would not confirm the passage of the order-in-council but said the move is part of the government's "bold action to get infrastructure and homes built faster." "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 on Tuesday."
"Mayor Olivia Chow is "disappointed" by the decision, said her press secretary, Braman Thillainathan. "For more than 15 years, Toronto's green roof bylaw has helped divert stormwater and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions," Thillainathan said in a statement Tuesday. "Green roofs make life less expensive and more comfortable for residents." In an email on Tuesday, the city said it no longer had the authority as of Monday to enforce the bylaw."
Ontario repealed Toronto's mandatory green roof bylaw, removing the city's authority to enforce it and making green roofs voluntary. The bylaw, adopted in 2009, required green roofs on new commercial, institutional and residential developments with at least 2,000 square metres of gross floor area. The policy led to more than 1,200 green roofs across Toronto. The city's mayor expressed disappointment, and the mayor's press secretary noted that for more than 15 years the bylaw helped divert stormwater, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and make life less expensive and more comfortable. The province framed the change as part of efforts to speed construction, reduce costs, and keep workers employed.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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