The Pressure Is Working — But the Stakes Are Rising (Dec Update)

amandajholden
3 days ago
4 min read

A lot has happened since our October update — and not by accident.

Because thousands of Oakville residents have shown up, spoken up, emailed, texted, hosted signs, rallied, and refused to disengage, the Midtown issue has not quietly disappeared the way Infrastructure Ontario clearly hoped it would.

That matters. And it’s working.

However, we need to be clear-eyed: we are now entering a more challenging and consequential phase of this process.

Let’s Be Honest About the “Revised” TOC

It wasn’t revised.

Infrastructure Ontario released what it called a “revised” Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) plan on November 17. After months of expert analysis from Town staff, detailed submissions from residents, and sustained public opposition, the outcome was unmistakable.

Nothing material changed.

All the expert planning analysis from the Town, all the input from residents, the submissions from We Love Oakville and community groups — ignored.

The number of units dropped by 0.3% — statistically meaningless
11 towers remain, at 45–56 storeys
12,000–14,000 people are still being forced onto 4.9 hectares
Density remains more than 10 times the provincial minimum and higher than downtown Toronto — even Manhattan

The core problem — extreme, unjustifiable mega-density — was never addressed.

Calling this a revision is insulting to residents and to the planning process itself.

We say NO to Mega Density.

OPA 70 Still Stands — And Still Waits

Town Council unanimously approved OPA 70, a balanced, defensible, community-supported plan for Midtown. It meets provincial growth targets, delivers housing, and builds a livable community.

And yet it still sits on the Minister’s desk.

At the same time, the Province’s preferred developer has already applied for exemptions.

That contradiction tells you everything you need to know about whose interests are being prioritized.

OPA 70 must apply to all of Midtown. No carve-outs. No exceptions.

The Myth of “Faster Housing”

One of the most misleading claims in this entire process is that the TOC will deliver housing faster.

It won’t.

· Construction is not expected to begin until after 2030

· Full build-out could take 25 years or more

· The current condominium market has collapsed

· There is no demonstrated demand for towers of this scale and configuration

This project does not accelerate housing. It locks Midtown into decades of uncertainty while inflating land values and freezing better, more realistic alternatives.

So why is IO still pushing a project the market won’t buy, with a design and configuration that defies basic planning logic?

Parks, Greenspace, and Community — Still Missing

Despite housing up to 14,000 people, the revised TOC includes:

· No parks

· No secured green space

· Token amenities: a library branch, wider walkways, a generic “community space,” and vague references to facilities that may or may not materialize

These are not community-building solutions. They are placeholders.

Consultation in Name Only

Infrastructure Ontario convened one final Local Advisory Committee meeting on November 27 — the first in nearly a year, and the last.

Residents were asked to absorb sweeping changes in days, not months.

This was not meaningful engagement. It was procedural box-checking.

WLO has formally requested a public hearing before any decisions are made. That request still stands.

Then Came the Real Escalation: Four Proposed MZO's

On December 3 — quietly, with no announcement — Infrastructure Ontario posted four proposed Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) for Midtown.

These MZOs would:

Lock in land-use permissions permanently - basically a regulatory free zone
Exempt these lands from Oakville’s zoning by-law requirements, including height, density, setbacks, parking standards, inclusionary zoning, and community benefits
Include no sunset clause or mechanism for reinstating local controls
Significantly increase land value for a government-selected developer
Apply even if no homes are built for years — or ever

Within this zone, the developer, not the Town, Council, or community, will set the rules, and may change them at will, unconstrained by planning policies or democratic oversight.

The original comment deadline for the proposed MZOs was January 3. After public pressure, it was extended to January 17 with a request pending to extend further.

There is no urgency to impose these MZOs. No justification. The only MZO that should be issued is an MZO to mandate OPA 70 across all of Midtown!

Town staff will report to Council on January 26 and must submit comments by January 30. After that, the Province alone decides.

This MZO proposal is unacceptable, indefensible, and must not go forward.

Your Actions Are Forcing Accountability

Because residents refused to disengage:

· Over 3,300 emails were sent to Ministers in preparation for the December 11 meeting;

· A packed rally was held on December 2;

· Lawn signs are now visible across Oakville; and

· Petitions are calling for Auditor General and Ombudsman review.

Regarding the December 11 meeting with provincial officials, Minister Crawford indicated that, meaningful information was communicated to the Province, and that Ministers Flack and McCarthy felt the meeting was very positive.

Pressure works — but only if it’s sustained.

What Comes Next

We need to be very clear with one another.

We are in the late stages, and the stakes are high. The pressure we are applying is working. We are building momentum. But in 2026, we will need to do even more.

Over the coming months, staying informed, sharing credible information, and growing the circle of engaged residents will matter as much as any single email campaign.

Infrastructure Ontario is counting on fatigue. We are counting on resolve.

Thank you to everyone who has shown up, spoken out, and refused to be sidelined. You are making a difference — and the next phase depends on you.

Stay informed. Share this update. Take the actions below. Be ready.

What You Can Do Right Now

Put up a lawn sign. Email Doug McKirgan - dmckirgan@sympatico.ca to request a sign.
Stay Informed:
- Continue to visit the We Love Oakville website
- Visit the Town Councillors' Midtown website
- Read more from the Coronation Park Residents' Association here
Support the petitions:
- Coronation Park petition here
- Oakville Community Association petition here