PICKERING, ONT. – Next month, the City of Pickering will vote on a new housing development plan that could reshape the area east of Toronto over the next 25 years.
Mayor Kevin Ashe is promoting this initiative, which aims to create homes for over 70,000 residents, as a way to generate jobs and tackle the ongoing housing shortage.
However, some critics claim that developing this agricultural land is both expensive and unnecessary. A local First Nation has raised concerns about insufficient consultation.
The proposed area spans more than 17 square kilometres, bordered by 6th Concession Road to the south, 8th Concession Road to the north, Lake Ridge Road to the east, and Westney Road to the west.
The Ontario government included this land in Pickering’s urban boundary back in December 2024.
In an interview earlier this month, the mayor noted that much of this land is currently used for growing crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans.
“We certainly recognize the importance of farmland,” he said. “But since the province has decided to expand Pickering’s urban boundary, our job now is to plan for growth carefully…and build a complete, well-designed community.”
According to Ashe, Pickering’s population is expected to rise from around 100,000 to more than 150,000 in just ten years.
“We have to be proactive and effectively make Pickering a place we can all be proud to call home,” he said during an interview earlier this month.
The Durham Regional Official Plan anticipates that by 2051, the region’s total population will increase from about 700,000 now to 1.3 million.
This policy document was passed by regional council in May 2023 and allows each of its eight municipalities to adjust their plans according to their specific housing needs and priorities.
If approved, Pickering’s upcoming housing project would align with this broader regional strategy. Yet it already faces challenges ahead.
The first vote on the development proposal was set for March but was postponed twice-first until April and then until May-after concerns were raised by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation regarding inadequate consultation efforts.
This region falls within their territory.
“In our view, there has been a complete lack of meaningful dialogue and our requests to meet to discuss our significant concerns have largely been ignored,” stated the First Nation in a social media post last month. “A consultation protocol between the City of Pickering and MSIFN is needed.”
The mayor asserted that city officials are dedicated to engaging respectfully with the First Nation community.
A spokesperson confirmed that Ashe met with Chief Kelly La Rocca last Monday where they discussed “interests and concerns,” along with future steps for ongoing engagement.
“Following the April 20 meeting-and recognizing how important it is for more dialogue time-the mayor directed postponing council’s consideration of the secondary plan,” they said.
Ash hopes that at a special meeting scheduled for May 20th; Pickering’s council will approve moving forward with these plans.
Abdullah Mir co-chairs an advocacy group called Stop Durham Sprawl and opposes it strongly.
“The reason it’s a bad idea is because it’s classic urban sprawl-and urban sprawl can be very costly,” Mir explained.
“Pickering is growing rapidly; I love living here but believe we must do better planning.”
Mira understands there’s pressure due to population growth but thinks estimates should reflect recent immigration policy changes made by Ottawa.
He mentioned existing neighborhoods can accommodate additional housing easily; thus he believes focusing on intensification makes more sense instead of developing “unserviced greenfield lands” without clarity on financial or environmental impacts-which haven’t yet been assessed properly either.
Ashe responded saying what’s being voted on merely serves as “a road map” leading into what he believes will be an inevitable process over ten-to-twenty-years.
“It really marks just beginning steps rather than completion,” he added while asserting various studies regarding environmental impact, s finances, wastewater etc., still await execution within five years’ time frame.
Urban planning professor David Amborski from Toronto Metropolitan University agrees with Ashe’s viewpoint advocating necessary developments such as northeast Pickering.
He emphasized cities need proactive measures since effective planning requires substantial lead times before actual outcomes appear viable.
“Right now we’re trying desperately catch up nationally addressing overall housing supply issues-including areas near Toronto-as well.”
Amborski continued noting despite recent progress made, east-of-Toronto regions remain historically behind places like York region above or Peel region nearby because limited economic opportunities exist there.
This situation needs altering , according him.
Amborski pointed out how decades ago, federal government acquired vast swathes intending construct airport northward towards bridging gaps encountered between eastern communities & rest GTA.
Yet those plans officially fell through last year after prolonged stagnation.
Meanwhile absence sufficient “shovel-ready” serviced lands contributed significantly driving up current property prices across Ontario -which poses major challenges going forward.
He further stressed importance balancing both intensification options alongside fresh developmental strategies if real solutions emerge tackling persistent shortages confronting us today.
In early-2024 , Ontario authorities announced statement aimed streamlining procedures related usage land facilitating swifter construction endeavors.
Amborski described those efforts as crucial ensuring availability suitable parcels exist everywhere including locales like pickerings themselves.
While environmental assessments may happen throughout initial phases involved-it becomes nearly impossible estimating total costs associated any particular project beforehand since many variables come into play density levels chosen type accommodations required infrastructure expenses reliance outside funding sources too!.
“You can’t stop growth. You’ve got find ways finance it effectively” he stressed adding essential mitigate adverse impacts linked financing while trusting paths resolve issues arising whenever possible! ©2026 The Canadian Press
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