Could it be that the world before is soon behind us? I am not talking about the pandemic, but outdated practices in urban development in Quebec. Next spring, the government will adopt a first National Strategy for Town and Country Planning, which will lead to an in-depth overhaul of laws, programs and practices. The expectations are very high.
Recently, Vivre en Ville published its brief on the National Strategy. We are putting forward the absolute priority of leaving the era of suburban sprawl to enter that of urban consolidation. To do this, two actions are essential: take responsibility for leadership of the State in land use planning, and impose a “land test” on government and municipal decisions.
The era of consolidation
As the government consultation document acknowledges, “our current practices encourage urban sprawl, which is the most costly mode of development in all areas: economic, environmental and human. Dependence on the automobile, loss of agricultural land, degradation or even disappearance of natural environments and increased vulnerability are all side effects of our ways of occupying our territory ”.
We must now aim for zero spreading. The National Strategy must put an end to the era of urban sprawl that we have known in Quebec for decades and allow us to enter, as of now, the era of the consolidation of towns and villages. We have to build a lot of housing in the right places. Beyond the restrictive measures, to achieve zero spread, it will be necessary to give the municipal sector the means, both financial and in terms of technical expertise.
State leadership
To turn the page on this unsustainable mode of development, the State will have to play an assumed role. The National Strategy must affirm the legitimacy of government intervention and the establishment of common rules. Its action plan will have to integrate legislative changes, budgetary measures, policies that confirm the role of leader, arbiter and support of the State.
The protection of agricultural land and a future permanent natural zone, the development of eco-neighborhoods throughout Quebec, the resolution of the housing crisis, the revitalization of downtown areas require a leadership government to act in a concerted manner.
Many municipalities are ready to embark on this necessary transition. Several have expressed the will. We must give the most innovative people the means to act now. Transformative actions are expected to be implemented as early as 2022.
Territory test
To set an example and assume the expected leadership, land use planning must become a priority.
Building schools, homes for the elderly, grocery stores, offices is planning. As soon as we invest in buildings or infrastructure, we mark and transform the territory and living environments. Each of the government projects, policies and programs will have to go through a “Territory Test”. Sometimes the project will not pass the test, so it will have to be reviewed.
Words matter. To assert the primacy of regional planning, it must have a ministry in its name. The Ministry of Territorial Planning and Community Support should have, for everything relating to the territory, a preponderant role similar to that played by the Treasury Board in terms of resource management.
In order to ensure the achievement of national targets related to land use planning, from the fight against climate change to health through the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, municipal land use planning must also integrate a predictable analysis of its effects.
There should be a “before” and a “after” the adoption of the National Strategy. From now on, let’s put the quality of living environments, the protection of Quebec’s territory and the climate emergency at the heart of our planning decisions.