Grassroots organizers to hold rally against Bill 23 in Richmond Hill Saturday

Advocacy group says new housing bill would strip environmental protections to make it easier to build costly car-dependent sprawl

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 23, 2022
Sheila Wang

An environmental advocacy group is calling on the public to join a rally in Richmond Hill to voice opposition to the Progressive Conservative provincial government’s housing legislation, Bill 23.

The rally will take place at Richmond Green Sports Centre from 3:30 -- 4.30 p.m. on Nov. 26, according to Environmental Defence.

The Ontario government tabled Bill 23 on Oct. 25 with the stated aim of speeding up housing construction to get 1.5 million new homes built over the next 10 years.

Environmental Defence says the new housing bill -- the More Homes Built Faster Act -- would strip environmental protections to make it easier to build costly, car-dependent sprawl.

Dozens of rallies against Bill 23 have taken place over the past week across Ontario and the one in Richmond Hill will be among 15 events planned for this weekend.

The advocacy group has also started online movements on social media using hashtags #HandsOffTheGreenbelt and #StopBill23.

More information is available on environmentaldefence.ca.