Phil Pothen
Program Manager, Land Use and Ontario Environment & Counsel
Phil is a land use planning and environmental lawyer with a background in landscape ecology, landscape architecture and 10 years of experience advising and representing provincial policy-makers, select small builders, and concerned residents. He joined EDC to advance “big-picture” approaches to problems he has dealt with case-by-case – a comprehensive alternative vision for development and industry that meets people’s needs while preserving Ontario’s natural spaces, farmland and other “greenfields” in perpetuity. Having spent his early summers searching out berries, moose tracks and rabbit burrows in the woods and barrens near his house, he has been pleased to introduce his three children to the many similar pleasures available in Toronto’s own urban ravines.
Read Phil's Posts
Apr 30, 2025
Proposal to Expand “Strong Mayor” Powers for 169 Towns Raises Serious Concerns
Ontario’s government is proposing a new law that would give Mayors in 169 small towns…
Apr 17, 2025
Bill 5 Would End Endangered Species Protections and Attack Clean Energy
Newly tabled bill is an attack on the public direct from the Trump Administration playbook…
Apr 15, 2025
Throne Speech Attempts Re-Brand of Failed Housing, Environmental and Energy Policies
Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment program manager Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas…
Apr 03, 2025
Upcoming Greenbelt Plan Review Needs Clear Guardrails
Recent findings from Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner are a timely reminder of why we need to…
Mar 05, 2025
New Habitat Protection Order Spells Trouble for Sprawl Developers and Highway 413
After more than 15 years of delays, federal laws now prohibit activities that would destroy…
Feb 20, 2025
Ontario’s Fixation on Highway Sprawl Caused our Housing Shortage
Three years after Ontario’s government committed to building more homes faster, the number of homes…
Feb 11, 2025
We Need a New Plan to Build More Affordable Homes in Ontario
As you’ve no doubt heard by now, Ontario is headed to the polls on February…
Dec 03, 2024
Statement by Phil Pothen, Land Use and Land Development Program Manager, on Auditor General of…
Nov 25, 2024
Statement from Phil Pothen, Counsel & Land Use and Land Development Program Manager, Environmental Defence…
Nov 13, 2024
To deliver 1.5 million homes by 2031, governments need to eliminate minimum parking requirements, reform…