Evaluating the Economic Benefits of Greenbelt Assets

The Greenbelt provides Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe region with a vibrant natural resource base serving as a solid anchor for the region’s agricultural, tourism and recreation industries. Constituting a significant component of the province’s natural capital, the Greenbelt has garnered global recognition for the province.

Produced by Econometric Research Limited, this study identifies, quantifies and showcases the economic contributions of the Greenbelt to the provincial economy and local areas dependent on its resource base. It provides objective, meaningful and sound estimates of the economic contributions of the main economic activities in, or based on, the natural capital base of the Greenbelt.

The Greenbelt delivers $9.1 billion economic impact every year and 161,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Ontario depend on it. It serves as a solid anchor for the region’s agricultural, tourism and recreation industries.

Recognized worldwide as a leading example of land-use planning, the Greenbelt Plan protects the essential ecosystem services that sustain air and water quality, local food production, biodiversity, and quality of human life for the region. In addition to showcasing the Greenbelt’s contributions to regional and provincial economies, this report expands beyond the border of Ontario and links the existence of a healthy Greenbelt in Ontario to strong Canada-wide benefits and significant tax revenues for all levels of government exceeding $2.8 billion every year.