The Missing Middle with Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux How Community Consultation is Ruining Democracy
Apr 9, 2025
Housing advocate Eric Lombardi, founder of More Neighbors Toronto, shares his insights on the flawed community consultation processes in Toronto. He argues that these practices often exclude diverse voices, favoring affluent homeowners. Lombardi highlights the need for more proactive engagement and calls for reforms to streamline consultations to empower all citizens. Topics include the implications of property rights, bureaucratic obstacles in housing development, and the role of provincial and federal governments in addressing the housing crisis.
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Unrepresentative Consultations
- Toronto's public consultations are poorly designed, often held at inconvenient times.
- This discourages participation from diverse groups, leading to unrepresentative feedback.
Grievance Platform
- Community consultations are used for nearly every zoning change, not just major policies.
- These meetings have become platforms for residents to air grievances, hindering development.
Scarborough Sixplex Consultation
- The Scarborough consultation on sixplexes is scheduled for a Friday night.
- This timing discourages working families and young people from attending.