Late last year, the Ontario government adopted two sweeping pieces of housing legislation — Bill 23 and Bill 39 — and opened parts of the province’s Greenbelt to development in its attempt to address the housing shortage crisis.

The province’s housing affordability task force produced a report highlighting the need for 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years.

While the report has become the impetus for the new housing laws, some researchers believe that its findings require more serious examination.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Mark Winfield from York University highlights the errors made in calculating the housing needs of future Ontarians — and the availability of undeveloped land that could help save the province’s Greenbelt.

Also today:

All the best,

Freny Fernandes

Assistant Editor, Environment + Energy
Ontario Premier Doug Ford talks to the media on a construction site in Brampton, Ont., in May 2022. Later in the year, the Ford government justified its adoption of sweeping housing legislation and the opening of parts of the Greater Toronto Area Greenbelt for development, stating that it was needed to address “the housing supply crisis.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Has Ontario’s housing ‘plan’ been built on a foundation of evidentiary sand?

Mark Winfield, York University, Canada

Evidence suggests that Ontario neither had a shortage of pre-authorized housing starts to accommodate its growing population, nor did it have a shortage of designated land to build such homes.
Support for use of health data is conditional on whether the use has public benefits. (Brittany Datchko/Graphic Journeys)

How can health data be used for public benefit? 3 uses that people agree on

P. Alison Paprica, University of Toronto; Annabelle Cumyn, Université de Sherbrooke ; Julia Burt, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Kimberlyn McGrail, University of British Columbia; Roxanne Dault, Université de Sherbrooke

There are concerns about how health data are used, but research shows support for uses with public benefits by health-care providers, governments, health-system planners and university-based researchers.
A new AI chatbot could revolutionize marketing for businesses. (Shutterstock)

ChatGPT could be a game-changer for marketers, but it won’t replace humans any time soon

Omar H. Fares, Toronto Metropolitan University

While ChatGPT has the potential to enhance marketing effectiveness, it can’t replace human creativity or form meaningful connections with customers like humans can.
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to his education minister during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 9, 2023. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

A call for peace: Why Canada should tone down demands for Russian regime change

Arnd Jurgensen, University of Toronto

It’s not in Canada’s interest, nor even in Ukraine’s, to risk nuclear Armageddon by pushing for Russian regime change.

La Conversation Canada
Pour créer des lieux de travail plus sûrs, il faut des dirigeants qui comprennent comment des années de restrictions des ressources, d’environnements malsains, d’abus de la part des patients, sans oublier une pandémie, ont contribué à l’épuisement professionnel et à l’insatisfaction des travailleurs. LA PRESSE CANADIENNE/Nathan Denette

Comment les gestionnaires du réseau de la santé peuvent favoriser des lieux de travail psychologiquement plus sûrs

Angela Coderre-Ball, Queen's University, Ontario; Colleen Grady, Queen's University, Ontario; Denis Chênevert, HEC Montréal

L’avenir de notre système de santé dépend du recrutement et de la rétention d’un personnel soignant et hautement qualifié. Il est essentiel de créer des environnements où ils se sentent soutenus et en sécurité.

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