East Gwillimbury, ON, August 10, 2026 — Brian Johns, candidate for Mayor of East Gwillimbury, today announced a housing plan built on a simple principle: growth must be planned, not reactive, and it must protect the established neighbourhoods residents already call home.
"East Gwillimbury is growing, and that growth has to be done right," said Johns. "Residents deserve certainty that new housing will enhance their quality of life, not erode it. That means protecting our established neighbourhoods, directing growth to the right places, and demanding quality and accountability every step of the way. Growth without planning creates pressure. Smart growth creates opportunity."
At the centre of the plan is a commitment to protect established neighbourhoods and prioritize new housing along key corridors where access to transit, healthcare, and retail already exists. Johns committed to aligning growth rates with provincial targets and regional water and wastewater capacity, ensuring development proceeds at a pace the Town's infrastructure can actually support.
Johns committed to establishing a formal Responsible Growth Framework to guide how growth is distributed, align approvals with the Town's Official Plan and Secondary Plans, and create fairness, transparency, and certainty for residents and builders alike. He also committed to a stronger, more predictable development review process, including third-party peer review of residential applications, published permitting timelines, and clear accountability for decisions.
To deliver a wider range of housing without altering the character of existing neighbourhoods, Johns committed to supporting a full range of housing types, including townhomes, low- and mid-rise forms, and purpose-built rental, and to championing gentle density such as accessory dwelling units and garden suites outside identified growth areas to support aging in place and family flexibility.
Johns also committed to urban design standards that ensure new development contributes positively to streetscapes and public spaces, building complete, walkable communities rather than counting units alone.
"Housing in East Gwillimbury has to work for current residents and future families," said Johns. "By protecting neighbourhoods, directing growth to the right places, and demanding quality, we can meet our targets without losing what makes this community home."
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