December 23, 2025

“As architects, designers and city builders, we spend our days thinking about the systems that make cities work… These are not luxuries or abstract design ideals. They are the foundational elements of livable, resilient communities and they rely on clear, coordinated municipal standards to deliver them consistently.”

Lisa Prime, director of sustainability at Diamond Schmitt; Jeanne Ng, environmental and architectural designer and partner at MJMA Architecture & Design; and Michelle Xuereb, innovation director at BDP Quadrangle, share their perspective on Ontario’s repeal of the Green Roof Bylaw in an op-ed titled “Fast Isn’t Enough: Why Ontario Needs Green Building Standards”, published in Canadian Architect.

“The province’s unilateral repeal of the Green Roof Bylaw demonstrates how quickly long-standing environmental protections can vanish without public consultation… If these standards become voluntary, we risk eroding the quality of our city spaces just when we need it most. This is not a political argument; it is a professional one. Municipal green development standards exist because they are practical, measurable and effective.”

The authors point out that the characteristics people value most in cities are the result of sustained policy frameworks.

“The qualities that make neighbourhoods desirable – beautiful mature trees, walkable destinations, safe bicycle routes, vibrant public spaces – are the outcomes of decades of thoughtful planning supported by consistent frameworks.”

Pointing to Toronto Green Standards, Lisa, Jeanne and Michelle highlight the role of coordinated municipal standards in delivering both clarity and results.

 “In Toronto, the TGS (Toronto Green Standard) has been one of the most effective tools for coordinating this work. Far from adding complexity, TGS weaves together dozens of requirements across planning, engineering, waste management, transportation and sustainability into a single, predictable structure. Developers know what is expected. Residents know what is being delivered. And the city benefits from incremental, long-term improvements to infrastructure, climate resilience and the public realm.”

The op-ed also challenges the idea that green building requirements slow housing delivery.

“It is a misconception that green standards slow down housing delivery. Toronto’s track record shows the opposite. The city continues to meet and surpass its provincial housing targets, having exceeded them by more than 50% in 2023, with most of those units designed and approved under TGS.”  

In closing, Lisa, Jeanne and Michelle place Ontario’s housing debate within a broader international context.

“The cities we admire globally did not grow by prioritizing speed over quality. They thrived because they paired ambitious growth with clear expectations, coordinated systems and strong design frameworks. Ontario now has the same opportunity for its own growing cities. We can build faster and more affordably, while also building wisely. The standards that shape our cities today will determine their affordability, livability and sustainability for generations to come. Building quickly matters and building well matters just as much.”

Read the full op-ed in Canadian Architect.