Toronto does not lack plans, policies, or permissions. It lacks something far more basic: a City Hall willing to approve what its own rules already allow. Despite years of debate, endless reports, and repeated claims of reform, Toronto’s municipal approvals system still defaults to “no,” sometimes after months or years of delay. The result is fewer homes, higher costs, shuttered main streets, and a city shaped by process rather than people. ABC Toronto is calling for a “Default to Yes”.
ABC’s Back-to-Basics Fix
1. One Application. One Clock. One Accountable Manager. Toronto must move to a single, city-wide digital approvals platform with a named case manager for every application. Reviews must run in parallel, not in sequence, with internal disagreements resolved by the City, not dumped back on applicants. The platform should provide clear timelines, visible to both applicants and the public. For complete, zoning-compliant projects, approval should be guaranteed within 30 days, with deemed approval applying wherever legally possible.
2. Automate the Rules – Stop Pretending They’re Discretionary. Setbacks, height, lot coverage, parking, and zoning compliance are rule-based checks. They should be automated. Cities such as Vienna have demonstrated that automated rule-checking can significantly reduce review times without sacrificing regulatory compliance. Human judgment should be reserved for true exceptions, not routine applications. Predictable projects should not be forced through political hearings to justify outcomes already allowed.
3. Enforce As-of-Right Zoning – Everywhere, in Every Ward. Fourplexes and sixplexes that meet zoning must be approved as-of-right, without delay or discretion. Mixed-use buildings on major streets should be permitted as-of-right, restoring small-scale retail and housing where the city actually needs it. “Missing middle” projects should move through a fast-track approval process measured in weeks, not years.
4. Public Accountability, Not Excuses. Council must publish a public dashboard showing approval times, delays, and completions by ward. If some wards approve housing quickly and others don’t, residents deserve to know why.
The Choice Before Council
A city that defaults to “yes” for compliant projects will build more homes, support local businesses, and restore public trust. A city that continues to default to delay will keep producing reports while the crisis gets worse.
Toronto does not need another study. It needs City Hall to get back to basics and start approving.