Opposition continues to grow against a proposed large-scale development project in northeast Pickering, as environmental advocates and Indigenous leaders call for the plan to be halted until further consultation and environmental review take place.
The proposed Northeast Pickering Secondary Plan would allow development across approximately 1,600 hectares of land in the rural north of the city. If approved, the long-term plan could support housing, businesses, schools, and other infrastructure for a future population of up to 70,000 residents.
However, critics argue that the project is moving forward without proper consultation and could threaten farmland, natural habitats, and environmentally sensitive areas.
Environmental activist Mike Borie is among the latest voices urging Pickering council to stop the development process until a comprehensive agreement is reached with all stakeholders, including the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN).
“Pickering Council members, I urge and implore you to fully read and comprehend what the letter from Chief Kelly LaRocca clearly and precisely states concerning any development proposals,” Borie said, referring to the First Nation’s concerns about development in the region.
The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation has repeatedly voiced opposition to development in northeast Pickering. The First Nation says the proposed expansion is moving forward without the meaningful consultation required under existing agreements.
Chief Kelly LaRocca, along with members of council, recently sent a letter to Durham Region’s Committee of the Whole expressing concern that their objections have not been adequately addressed.
In the letter, the First Nation urged Durham Region not to move forward with an Environmental Assessment funding agreement related to the project until proper consultation has taken place.
“We have been willing partners but our concerns and requests for proper consultation have gone unanswered,” the letter states.
The First Nation also emphasized that it has not entered into any formal agreement with the City of Pickering regarding development plans in the northeast area and warned against claims suggesting otherwise.
The lands under discussion include environmentally significant areas such as the Carruthers Creek headwaters, which environmental groups say must be carefully protected.
The First Nation has also requested that the provincial government conduct a comprehensive individual environmental assessment to examine potential environmental impacts before any development moves forward.
Despite the opposition, city staff in Pickering have already prepared an Official Plan Amendment for the Northeast Pickering Secondary Plan.
The proposal outlines how the area could be developed over the next 30 years, including plans for residential communities, employment lands, transportation infrastructure, schools, and public spaces.
The area identified for development is bounded by Westney Road to the west, Eighth Concession Road to the north, Lake Ridge Road to the east, and Highway 7 to the south.
The proposal has sparked strong reactions from environmental groups and local activists who argue the project would accelerate urban sprawl and threaten agricultural land.
Organizations such as Land Over Landings, a group known for its long campaign opposing the proposed Pickering airport project, have also spoken out against the development.
Environmental activist Irene Ford criticized the project as an example of developer-driven expansion.
“I am tired and exhausted of this developer-led, sprawl-intensive development,” Ford said. “Please put an end to this nonsense.”
Supporters of the project, however, argue the development could help address future housing demand and economic growth in Durham Region as the population continues to expand.
Pickering City Council is expected to continue discussions about the proposal at its March 23 council meeting, where the future of the Northeast Pickering Secondary Plan will be debated further.
