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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.

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Apr 10, 2024

Statement: Bill 185 and Proposed Provincial Planning Statement Would Unleash a Wave of “Greenfield Scandals” by Removing Tribunal Oversight of Sprawl Approvals

Phil Pothen, Land Use and Land Development Program Manager Toronto | Traditional territories of the…

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Mar 22, 2024

Statement in Response to Premier Ford’s Comments Ruling Out Fourplexes in Ontario’s Housing Strategy

Phil Pothen, Land Use and Land Development Program Manager Toronto | Traditional territories of the…

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Mar 04, 2024

Queen’s Park Motion to Slash 407 Truck Tolls Undermines the Ontario Government’s Business Case for Highway 413

Moving trucks to Hwy 407 would tackle 401 congestion faster – and $6 billion cheaper…

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Feb 21, 2024

Statement: “Get It Done Act” Would Make it Harder to Fix the Housing Shortage and Tackle GTA Traffic

Statement by Phil Pothen, Land Use and Land Development Program Manager Toronto | Traditional territories…

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Feb 05, 2024

Statement: The Ontario Government’s So-Called “Get It Done” Bill Would Revive the Sprawl and Land Speculation Scandal

Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager, on reports of forthcoming legislation to reinstate…

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Dec 12, 2023

Environmental Groups Celebrate End of Hamilton Boundary Case

New law makes good on Ontario government promise to end attack that forced city to…

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Dec 12, 2023

December 15th Deadline: Torontonians who Care About the Environment Must Support Six Storey Apartment Buildings in Existing Neighbourhoods

From now until December 15th, the City of Toronto is conducting public consultation on Environmental…

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Oct 24, 2023

Statement: The Ontario Government’s Application for Judicial Review of the Federal Impact Assessment Act is an Attempt to Create a Temporary Gap in Environmental Protections

Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager on the Ontario government’s Application for Judicial…

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Oct 23, 2023

Statement: Reversing forced boundary expansions in Hamilton, Halton, Waterloo and other municipalities would be another modest step towards ending Ontario’s sprawl and land speculation scandal

Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager on Ontario Government’s Commitment to Reverse Forced…

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Oct 16, 2023

Statement: The Ontario Government’s New Greenbelt Bill is only a modest first step towards ending the sprawl and land speculation scandal

Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager on An Act to amend the Greenbelt…

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