Section 37: What ‘Benefits’ and for Whom?

Section 37 is the provision in the Ontario Planning Act that allows municipalities to extract benefits from developers in return for allowing development that exceeds height and/or density restrictions – a practice more broadly known as ‘density bonusing’. In recent years, the City of Toronto’s use of Section 37 has come under greater scrutiny. In particular, critics question how the benefits are determined and distributed. Using data compiled on Section 37 agreements from 2007 through 2011, this presentation seeks to answer that question.

SPEAKER

Aaron Moore was the IMFG Post-Doctoral Fellow for 2011-12. Dr. Moore received his Doctorate degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario in 2009. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Planning Politics in Toronto: The Ontario Municipal Board and Urban Development, from the University of Toronto Press.