Proposed 40,000-person development near Port Dover divides rural community

The provincial government’s push for housing and development is dividing the people of a mainly rural community in Haldimand County. Developers are proposing a huge new housing development of 40,000 people near Port Dover, but the project is facing opposition. This is a conflict between people who like things the way they are in their community and say the cost of change, both socially and financially, would be too high. Others say the project would mean a new era of jobs and prosperity. In the areas around Port Dover and leading into the town, “No MZOs” is a common sign. MZOs are Ministerial Zoning Orders, the method the provincial government is proposing to use to clear the way for a massive project of building and business development near Port Dover. “It is a bad idea. This MZO will create residential use in an industrial park,” said Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley.